An Australian woman's family cycling holiday in the United States has ended in tragedy when she looked the wrong way while attempting to cross a busy Florida highway.
Elsise Hoath, 60, made a mistake many Australians do while in America, but her error was fatal.
Instead of looking left before crossing the road, she looked right as she would in Australia, and believing the highway was clear, stepped in front of a fast-moving Nissan Pathfinder 4WD without seeing it.
She died at the scene in the arms of her husband, who was cycling with her.
"Being from Australia she looked in the opposite direction of where cars in the US were coming from," Lieutenant Pat Santangelo from the Florida Highway Patrol said today.
"According to witnesses she stepped right out in front of a car.
"She never saw it coming."
Lt Santangelo said Hoath, her husband and other family members were holidaying in the popular southern Florida tourist region near Key West, an area of islands connected by the US 1 Highway.
Hoath and her husband were attempting to cross the four lane highway just after midday Florida time today (6.00am NZT).
"There was a median strip on the highway and they successfully got to that," Lt Santangelo said.
"The victim looked to see if any vehicles were coming, but looked the wrong way."
It is believed the Nissan Pathfinder was travelling at the speed limit, about 60km/h.
Hoath's husband Russell, was being comforted by other family who also were on holiday in Florida.
"She had other family members holidaying with her in the Keys as well," Lt Santangelo, who said he was not sure if the other family members were children of the deceased, said.
The tragic accident is common in Florida, with more than 3,000 traffic accidents a year in the state.
"It is pretty dangerous riding, driving or walking here," Lt Santangelo added.
The accident caused major traffic delays on the final day of America's Thanksgiving holiday.
The highway, the main thoroughfare in and out of the Florida Keys, was closed for several hours.
---------------------------------
It was the second road tragedy for the family this year. Mrs Hoath's nephew died in a motorcycle accident in Greece about eight months ago.
A relative, who asked not to be named, described Mrs Hoath as: "A fantastic woman, a wonderful mother and wife, who will be sadly missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.
"She was a dedicated teacher for many years who touched many lives, was an active member of the Canterbury Baptist Church and we're all struggling to come to terms with what seems to be just a tragic, tragic accident."
During her career, Mrs Hoath worked at several Melbourne private schools including Presbyterian Ladies College.
Elsise Hoath, 60, made a mistake many Australians do while in America, but her error was fatal.
Instead of looking left before crossing the road, she looked right as she would in Australia, and believing the highway was clear, stepped in front of a fast-moving Nissan Pathfinder 4WD without seeing it.
She died at the scene in the arms of her husband, who was cycling with her.
"Being from Australia she looked in the opposite direction of where cars in the US were coming from," Lieutenant Pat Santangelo from the Florida Highway Patrol said today.
"According to witnesses she stepped right out in front of a car.
"She never saw it coming."
Lt Santangelo said Hoath, her husband and other family members were holidaying in the popular southern Florida tourist region near Key West, an area of islands connected by the US 1 Highway.
Hoath and her husband were attempting to cross the four lane highway just after midday Florida time today (6.00am NZT).
"There was a median strip on the highway and they successfully got to that," Lt Santangelo said.
"The victim looked to see if any vehicles were coming, but looked the wrong way."
It is believed the Nissan Pathfinder was travelling at the speed limit, about 60km/h.
Hoath's husband Russell, was being comforted by other family who also were on holiday in Florida.
"She had other family members holidaying with her in the Keys as well," Lt Santangelo, who said he was not sure if the other family members were children of the deceased, said.
The tragic accident is common in Florida, with more than 3,000 traffic accidents a year in the state.
"It is pretty dangerous riding, driving or walking here," Lt Santangelo added.
The accident caused major traffic delays on the final day of America's Thanksgiving holiday.
The highway, the main thoroughfare in and out of the Florida Keys, was closed for several hours.
---------------------------------
It was the second road tragedy for the family this year. Mrs Hoath's nephew died in a motorcycle accident in Greece about eight months ago.
A relative, who asked not to be named, described Mrs Hoath as: "A fantastic woman, a wonderful mother and wife, who will be sadly missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.
"She was a dedicated teacher for many years who touched many lives, was an active member of the Canterbury Baptist Church and we're all struggling to come to terms with what seems to be just a tragic, tragic accident."
During her career, Mrs Hoath worked at several Melbourne private schools including Presbyterian Ladies College.
An Australian woman's family cycling holiday in the United States has ended in tragedy when she looked the wrong way while attempting to cross a busy Florida highway.
Elsise Hoath, 60, made a mistake many Australians do while in America, but her error was fatal.
Instead of looking left before crossing the road, she looked right as she would in Australia, and believing the highway was clear, stepped in front of a fast-moving Nissan Pathfinder 4WD without seeing it.
She died at the scene in the arms of her husband, who was cycling with her.
"Being from Australia she looked in the opposite direction of where cars in the US were coming from," Lieutenant Pat Santangelo from the Florida Highway Patrol said today.
"According to witnesses she stepped right out in front of a car.
"She never saw it coming."
Lt Santangelo said Hoath, her husband and other family members were holidaying in the popular southern Florida tourist region near Key West, an area of islands connected by the US 1 Highway.
Hoath and her husband were attempting to cross the four lane highway just after midday Florida time today (6.00am NZT).
"There was a median strip on the highway and they successfully got to that," Lt Santangelo said.
"The victim looked to see if any vehicles were coming, but looked the wrong way."
It is believed the Nissan Pathfinder was travelling at the speed limit, about 60km/h.
Hoath's husband Russell, was being comforted by other family who also were on holiday in Florida.
"She had other family members holidaying with her in the Keys as well," Lt Santangelo, who said he was not sure if the other family members were children of the deceased, said.
The tragic accident is common in Florida, with more than 3,000 traffic accidents a year in the state.
"It is pretty dangerous riding, driving or walking here," Lt Santangelo added.
The accident caused major traffic delays on the final day of America's Thanksgiving holiday.
The highway, the main thoroughfare in and out of the Florida Keys, was closed for several hours.
---------------------------------
It was the second road tragedy for the family this year. Mrs Hoath's nephew died in a motorcycle accident in Greece about eight months ago.
A relative, who asked not to be named, described Mrs Hoath as: "A fantastic woman, a wonderful mother and wife, who will be sadly missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.
"She was a dedicated teacher for many years who touched many lives, was an active member of the Canterbury Baptist Church and we're all struggling to come to terms with what seems to be just a tragic, tragic accident."
During her career, Mrs Hoath worked at several Melbourne private schools including Presbyterian Ladies College.
Elsise Hoath, 60, made a mistake many Australians do while in America, but her error was fatal.
Instead of looking left before crossing the road, she looked right as she would in Australia, and believing the highway was clear, stepped in front of a fast-moving Nissan Pathfinder 4WD without seeing it.
She died at the scene in the arms of her husband, who was cycling with her.
"Being from Australia she looked in the opposite direction of where cars in the US were coming from," Lieutenant Pat Santangelo from the Florida Highway Patrol said today.
"According to witnesses she stepped right out in front of a car.
"She never saw it coming."
Lt Santangelo said Hoath, her husband and other family members were holidaying in the popular southern Florida tourist region near Key West, an area of islands connected by the US 1 Highway.
Hoath and her husband were attempting to cross the four lane highway just after midday Florida time today (6.00am NZT).
"There was a median strip on the highway and they successfully got to that," Lt Santangelo said.
"The victim looked to see if any vehicles were coming, but looked the wrong way."
It is believed the Nissan Pathfinder was travelling at the speed limit, about 60km/h.
Hoath's husband Russell, was being comforted by other family who also were on holiday in Florida.
"She had other family members holidaying with her in the Keys as well," Lt Santangelo, who said he was not sure if the other family members were children of the deceased, said.
The tragic accident is common in Florida, with more than 3,000 traffic accidents a year in the state.
"It is pretty dangerous riding, driving or walking here," Lt Santangelo added.
The accident caused major traffic delays on the final day of America's Thanksgiving holiday.
The highway, the main thoroughfare in and out of the Florida Keys, was closed for several hours.
---------------------------------
It was the second road tragedy for the family this year. Mrs Hoath's nephew died in a motorcycle accident in Greece about eight months ago.
A relative, who asked not to be named, described Mrs Hoath as: "A fantastic woman, a wonderful mother and wife, who will be sadly missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.
"She was a dedicated teacher for many years who touched many lives, was an active member of the Canterbury Baptist Church and we're all struggling to come to terms with what seems to be just a tragic, tragic accident."
During her career, Mrs Hoath worked at several Melbourne private schools including Presbyterian Ladies College.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
