Man airlifted after Vero Beach driver strikes him on I-95

Low beach attendance for January; no water rescues

VERO BEACH — While chilly temperatures caused a drop in beach attendance last month, lifeguards are happy to report that there were no water rescues that occurred in January. "It's a great thing," Vero Beach Lifeguard Association officials said in a statement. "We hope people are paying attention to lifeguards and condition signs before they go into the water." The Vero Beach Lifeguard Association recently released its monthly report for the beaches at Jaycee Park, Humiston Park and South Beach Park. Lifeguards said about 54,105 beachgoers flocked to the shore in January. The highest beach-attendance record of 65,700 was set in 2019 for Vero Beach, lifeguards said. The record low for beach attendance was set in 2016 with 36,000 people, ...

Sebastian officer to start trial for K-9 who died in hot car

SEBASTIAN — The long-awaited trial for a Sebastian officer whose K-9 partner died in a sweltering patrol car will begin this month in Brevard County, according to court records. Officer Eric Michael Antosia will face a jury trial at 9 a.m. Oct. 15 at the Moore Justice Center Courthouse in Brevard County, records show. The trial will be coordinated by the Brevard Circuit Judge Kelly Ingram. Antosia was charged with animal cruelty in August 2017 after his K-9 partner Diesel was found dead in the back of his patrol car four months earlier in Melbourne, authorities said. Antosia had gone to a work-related court hearing in Vero Beach with Diesel in the vehicle. After court, Antosia drove to his home ...

‘No swimming’ advisory lifted for beaches, officials say

VERO BEACH — Authorities lifted a 'no swimming' advisory for three local beaches Tuesday after test samples showed that bacteria returned to normal levels, health department and city officials said. The result means it was safe to return to the water Tuesday, Vero Beach city officials said. The advisory - which was in place for nearly a week - was issued Jan. 31 for South Beach, Humiston Beach and Sexton Plaza Beach after high levels of fecal-related bacteria were reported at the locations. Environmental specialists with the Florida Department of Health in Indian River County collected water samples at the beaches Monday and on Jan. 28. The more recent collection of samples - tested at the Flowers Chemical Laboratory in Port St. ...