UPDATE: Paramedic Dies in Crash That Shut Down Clearwater Intersection

Update:

The paramedic killed in Monday's traffic accident in Clearwater was one of the first responders on the scene when a little girl in Palm Harbor lost her legs in a lawnmower accident.

Christopher A. Jennings was one of the first on the scene when 2-year-old Ireland Nugent had her legs severed in a freak accident April 10, Clearwater Police spokesperson Rob Shaw told Patch.

Jennings met with Ireland and her parents during the toddler's recovery, Bay News 9 reports.

Earlier:

A 33-year-old off-duty paramedic was killed in an accident that shut down traffic for hours at a busy Clearwater intersection just before rush hour Monday.

Clearwater Police say Sunstar paramedic Christopher A. Jennings, of Palm Harbor, died as a result of a motorcycle-car crash that happened shortly before 4:30 p.m. Monday at Keene Road and Gulf to Bay Boulevard.

Jennings was headed northbound on Keene on his 2008 Suzuki when he accelerated past traffic that was slowing for the red light at Gulf to Bay, according to Clearwater Police.

Jennings struck the passenger side of 37-year-old Inez Ledford's 2001 Chevrolet Suburban, which was headed southbound and waiting to turn left, police said.

Jennings was taken to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The road was closed for about four hours after the crash.

Jennings was on his way home from Sunstar headquarters at the time of the accident, according to a post on the company's Facebook page.

He had been with Sunstar for four years, working as an assistant supervisor paramedic out of the north Pinellas hub. He was also a SWAT paramedic in support of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

"He was an outstanding employee," said Rob Smith, director of communications
for Sunstar, in a media release. "He loved being a part of EMS."

Jennings worked an EMS job in Georgia before moving to Florida a few years
ago and still has family members there, Smith said.

"Chris will be missed," Smith said.

Earlier:

Drivers are advised to find alternate routes in the area of Keene Road and Gulf to Bay Boulevard in Clearwater following an accident just before rush hour Monday, officials said.

Clearwater Police were called to the scene at 4:26 p.m. after a car and motorcycle collided at the intersection, a police spokesperson said.

Stay with Patch for updates to this story.