Visitation slated for area man killed in Florida's Key West
Visitation begins in Scottdale today for a well-known Westmoreland County businessman who died on Sunday from injuries he suffered in a freak traffic accident in the Florida Keys over Memorial Day weekend.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Randall R. Graft, 54, of North Huntingdon, formerly of Scottdale, who died in a Miami hospital. The accident occurred in Key West a week earlier.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Department reported Graft was driving alone at 7:45 a.m. in a small, electric-powered vehicle, similar to a golf cart, along busy U.S. Route 1 when he was rear-ended by a Monroe County Sheriff's Department patrol car.
The accident occurred at milepost 6 of the four-lane highway, just north of the Boca Chica bridge.
In a news release, the sheriff's office reported Deputy Scott Ward was southbound going to a special detail at Higg's Beach in Key West when "he reportedly ran into the rear of the small electric vehicle."
Graft, who was not wearing a seat belt and was the only occupant of the rental vehicle, was ejected, said Sgt. Mark Wysocky, a Florida Highway Patrol spokesman.
Wysocky said the investigation into the cause of the accident "could possibly take a couple months to complete."
"These electric-powered vehicles are registered through the state, and able to be rented. However, they are only to be used on roadways that have speed limits of 35 mph or less," Wysocky said.
Wysocky said authorities are attempting to determine why Graft, who was visiting the area, was operating the vehicle along a highway where the speed limit is posted at 55 mph.
Ward remains on duty, police said.
Graft was taken by a medical helicopter to Ryder Trauma Center, which is part of Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.
Larry Cameron, director of operations at the Miami Dade County Medical Examiner's office, said Graft died in the Jackson hospital Sunday.
"An autopsy was performed Monday, and the case remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol," Cameron said.
Cameron said, because of the ongoing investigation, he is limited in what information he can release about the accident.
He said the manner of death has been ruled an accident, and the cause of death was ruled as complications of multiple blunt-force injuries.
Graft was employed as a construction project manager with Brookwood Program Management, a nationwide firm involved in large-scale design, development and construction programs.
He attended Charter Oak United Methodist Church and was a former member of the Mt. Pleasant Church of God. He was a member of BPOE (Elks) Lodge 777, Scottdale, and the National Wild Turkey Federation.
In addition to his parents, Donald and Patricia Graft, he is survived by his wife, Sherry Lynn; his children, Ryan R. Graft of Greensburg, Leslie L. Graft of North Huntingdon, and Daniel L. Graft of New Stanton; two grandsons; his brothers, Terence L. Graft of Greensburg and Douglas A. Graft of Scottdale, and his sister, Pamela D. Snyder of Scottdale.
Family and friends will be received 4 to 8 p.m. today and from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Graft-Jacquillard Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc., 303 Pittsburgh St., Scottdale.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in the Mt. Pleasant Church of God, 936 W. Main St., Mt. Pleasant, with the Rev. Christ Whitehead officiating.
Private interment will follow in Wesley Chapel Cemetery, East Huntingdon. The family suggests contributions to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 707 Grant St., Suite 3700, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1938, in memory of Graft.
