Hit and Run

July 29, 2025

News: Suspect arrested in Silver Springs Shores hit-and-run that killed pedestrian

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – A suspect was taken into custody in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident in Marion County last week, the Ocala StarBanner reports.

The pedestrian crash took place on the night of July 23 along County Road 464 near Bahia Road in Silver Springs Shores. The Florida Highway Patrol stated a man was walking in the westbound lane at about 11:25 p.m. when he was hit by the front of a westbound vehicle.

The victim, identified as 66-year-old Craig Forrest of Ocala, was found dead in the right turn lane of C.R. 464. The driver left the scene without stopping to report the collision, state troopers said.

July 24, 2025

News: Search underway for driver involved in fatal Marion County hit-and-run

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – Authorities are trying to track down the driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run incident that occurred in Marion County late Wednesday night.

WKMG reports the pedestrian crash took place along County Road 464 near Bahia Road. The Florida Highway Patrol stated a man was walking in the westbound lane at about 11:25 p.m. when he was hit by the front of a westbound vehicle.

The victim, a 66-year-old Ocala man, was found dead in the right turn lane of C.R. 464. The driver left the scene without stopping to report the collision, state troopers said. The area where it happened was dark and did not have street lighting.

June 19, 2025

News: Pedestrian fatally struck by semi in Gainesville hit-and-run incident

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

GAINESVILLE, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol is trying to track down the driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run collision in Gainesville Sunday morning, reports WCJB.

The incident happened off Interstate 75 near Williston Road. State troopers said a pedestrian walking near an exit ramp of the interstate was struck by a vehicle and suffered fatal injuries.

The driver left the scene of the crash. Witnesses described the vehicle involved as a black semi-truck. No details were released on the identity of the victim.

April 24, 2025

News: State troopers searching for driver in Marion County hit-and-run crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – A search is underway for the driver involved in a hit-and-run incident in Marion County last week, reports WKMG.

The Florida Highway Patrol released surveillance images of the pickup truck they are looking for. The crash occurred April 18 in the area of State Road 326 and NE Jacksonville Road.

The FHP said the driver of the pickup was going west on S.R. 326 at about 7:25 a.m. at the same time the driver of a sedan was heading east on the roadway. As the sedan went through the intersection with NE Jacksonville Road, the pickup driver made a left turn in front of it, resulting in a collision. The impact then caused the sedan to crash into a parked car.

March 26, 2025

News: Driver sought in Marion County hit-and-run that injured pedestrian

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – A search is underway for the driver who struck and injured a pedestrian in Marion County on Monday, March 17.

According to the Ocala Star-Banner, the victim was walking on the shoulder of County Road 42 near Southeast 203rd Avenue in Umatilla when the incident happened at about 2:30 a.m.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the pedestrian was struck from behind by an unknown vehicle that veered off the road near Southeast 203rd Avenue. The victim, a 27-year-old Ocala man, suffered injuries that were serious but not life-threatening.

February 25, 2025

Do Not Leave the Scene of a Car Crash – Here’s Why

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Hit-and-run car accidents are a big problem in the state of Florida, with nearly 25% of all crashes involving a hit-and-run driver. Most of these accidents result in property damage, but the reality is that a good amount of hit-and-run accidents can result in serious injuries or even death.

According to the FLHSMV, there were 104,273 hit-and-run crashes in Florida in 2023, which is a decrease of less than 1% from 2022. Of these hit-and-run collisions in 2023, 271 lives were lost and another 871 suffered serious bodily injuries. Out of the 271 people who were killed in hit-and-run accidents in 2023, 159 were pedestrians and 47 were bicyclists.

What Are the Laws in Florida Regarding Hit-and-Run Accidents?

January 20, 2025

News: Suspect in custody in connection with Lake County hit-and-run

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LAKE COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol has made an arrest in the case of a collision that killed a motorist in Lake County on Jan. 13, according to the Leesburg News.

The crash happened on US-27 at Margaux Drive shortly before 7 p.m. According to the FHP, the vehicle of a 37-year-old Auburndale man had broken down and he was standing behind it, directing traffic to the next lane. A tow truck driver stopped partially in the outside lane and on the shoulder of the road to assist the man.

State troopers said that at that point, the driver of a Kia Soul was heading south on US-27 in the outside lane and failed to move over. The Kia then struck the 37-year-old pedestrian, causing him to hit the driver’s side mirror of the tow truck. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

January 16, 2025

Driver of disabled vehicle struck and killed in hit-and-run on U.S. 27

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LAKE COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly hit-and-run incident that occurred Monday evening in Lake County.

A report by WKMG states that a 37-year-old Auburndale man was killed in the crash on US-27 at Margaux Drive shortly before 7 p.m. According to the FHP, the man’s vehicle had broken down and he was standing behind it, directing traffic to the next lane. A tow truck driver stopped partially in the outside lane and on the shoulder of the road to assist the man.

State troopers said that at that point, the driver of a Kia Soul was heading south on US-27 in the outside lane and failed to move over. The Kia then struck the 37-year-old pedestrian, causing him to hit the driver’s side mirror of the tow truck. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

December 4, 2024

News: Suspect arrested in Belleview hit-and-run that killed pedestrian

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

BELLEVIEW, FL – A suspect is under arrest in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident that occurred in Belleview on Sunday afternoon, the Ocala StarBanner reports.

The Belleview Police Department said that Christian Patrick Parker was charged with vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident involving death.

Police said Parker was driving a 1998 Lincoln Town Car when he struck and killed 34-year-old Ariel Hartford on U.S. 441 south. An investigation determined that Parker allegedly went through a stop light and struck Hartford as she was attempting to cross the street at about 2:47 p.m. The driver kept going after the collision without stopping, according to police.

November 22, 2024

News: Driver flees after SUV crashes into Land O’Lakes home, leaving 1 man dead

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LAND O’LAKES, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal hit-and-run accident that occurred Tuesday morning in Land O’Lakes, according to Pasco News Online.

State troopers said the driver of a Chevy Tahoe veered off the road while heading south on US-41 near Bell Lake Road at about 12:30 a.m. The SUV went across a sidewalk and collided with a Honda Fit that was parked in a driveway. The impact caused the Honda to go through an interior wall and hit a 37-year-old Tampa man, who was airlifted to an area hospital with serious injuries. He was pronounced dead the following day.

The FHP is now searching for the driver of the Tahoe, described as a woman in her mid 30s. She fled the scene on foot after the crash.