Man struck and killed while walking his dog

At about 9:00 p.m. Tuesday night, Historic City News was informed that a pedestrian was struck and killed by the driver of a 2002 white Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck while he was walking his service dog, Sadie, in the area of SR-16, eastbound at CR-208.

The victim, 46-year-old Allen Charles Gubser, whose last reported address was New Orleans, Louisiana, was walking north; crossing the eastbound lanes of SR-16, in an area that is not designated for pedestrian travel.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol crash report, the front portion of the pickup truck, driven by 21-year-old Erika Nicole Lazarock of St Johns County, struck the pedestrian in the inside travel lane of SR-16.

Sadie was taken to a veterinary hospital where she died at about 11:00 p.m., according to family members.

Gubser was transported to Baptist South Hospital by St Johns County Fire Rescue for emergency treatment of life-threatening head trauma sustained in the collision. Upon arrival, he had to be resuscitated. He was stabilized for transportation to UF Health Jacksonville, where he died at 1:19 a.m.

Lazarock was reportedly uninjured, although about $5,500 in damages were estimated to her vehicle.

Trooper Bartholomew reported that traffic homicide investigators are trying to determine if alcohol was a factor – for either party. Charges in this case are pending the outcome of that investigation.

Gubser and his fiancé were visiting St Augustine and were scheduled to return to New Orleans next week; when they were planning to be married. “I don’t know why he had to die…he was my soul-mate and my best friend,” she wrote. “Yes he was drinking that day, but he only had a couple of beers — and he was nowhere near drunk.”