Hit and Run

August 31, 2023

Hit-and-run incident leaves 2 dead, Ocala police officer injured

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – Two people died and a police officer was injured following a hit-and-run incident in Ocala Saturday night, according to WESH.

Police said a driver was speeding through the intersection of South Pine Avenue and Southwest 17th Street shortly before 10:30 p.m. and struck a pedestrian and a parked patrol car. The pedestrian, whose name was not released, was pronounced dead after being transported to an area hospital.

The driver left the scene of the crash with police officers in pursuit. One officer was parked in a median near Maricamp Road and 30th Avenue and was preparing to place stop sticks on the ground.

July 27, 2023

News: Man charged with leaving scene of crash on State Road 44

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LAKE DEATON, FL – A man accused of fleeing the scene of a crash in Sumter County earlier this year has been apprehended, the Villages-News reports.

The Florida Highway Patrol identified the suspect as 31-year-old Marcus J. Sims of Leesburg. The accident happened Jan. 28 on State Road 44 near Lake Deaton.

According to the FHP, Sims was driving a Maserati and racing with an Audi when the vehicles were involved in a crash that also included another vehicle. A 27-year-old woman from Summerfield was injured in the incident.

June 30, 2023

News: Man sentenced for leaving scene of crash in the Villages

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

HAWKINS, FL – A man was sentenced in connection with a hit-and-run crash in the Villages last month, reports The Villages-News.

36-year-old Mark Regan of Pennsylvania was arrested on a charge of leaving the scene of an accident after the incident that occurred May 1 in the area of State Road 44 and Powell Road.

Police said Regan was driving a Mazda 3 when he struck the back of a trailer being towed by a truck at about 3 p.m.

June 15, 2023

News: FHP searching for driver who struck, killed 68-year-old woman

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

TRENTON, FL – Authorities are trying to track down the driver who struck and killed a a pedestrian in Trenton on Sunday night.

A report by WCJB states that the incident took place on Southeast 53rd Court at 8:45 p.m. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 68-year-old woman was walking on the roadway when she was struck by a northbound pickup truck. The victim, whose name was not released, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the pickup fled the scene going north on Southeast 53rd Court. The truck was abandoned and found nearby, and a search for the driver is ongoing.

June 5, 2023

News: Arrest made in Pasco County hit-and-run that killed pedestrian

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

HUDSON, FL – A man is facing charges in connection with a crash that killed a pedestrian in Pasco County last month, state troopers said.

A report by WFLA states that the suspect is identified as 30-year-old Mason Ryan Stevenson of Webster. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Stevenson was driving on Bolton Avenue May 26 when his vehicle fatally struck a 31-year-old Hudson woman who walked into his path. Stevenson allegedly fled the scene of the incident.

His vehicle was later found abandoned near the scene. Acting on a tip received by the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, the FHP located Stevenson in Hudson and he was arrested last Wednesday at about 5:30 p.m.

March 24, 2023

News: Moped rider struck by hit-and-run driver on US 441

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – A moped rider was injured after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in Marion County early Wednesday morning, state troopers said.

A report by WGFL stated that the incident took place on U.S. 441 near Southeast 73rd Street at about midnight. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a person riding an orange moped was struck at that location by a black Cadillac sedan. The moped rider was seriously injured and taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center.

The FHP said the driver of the Cadillac left the scene of the crash and is now being sought. Anyone with further information on the incident or the driver’s whereabouts was asked to contact the FHP.

January 19, 2023

News: Woman struck, killed in hit-and-run incident in Brooksville

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

BROOKSVILLE, FL – A woman died after being struck in Brooksville by a driver who left the scene, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

According to a report by WTSP, the 47-year-old victim was hit by a vehicle in the area of Citrus Way and Glory Lane on Monday, and suffered fatal injuries.

Investigators said debris from the crash scene helped them identify the vehicle involved as a 2002 Dodge Ram pickup truck.

January 13, 2023

News: Woman arrested for fatal hit-and-run incident in Gainesville

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

GAINESVILLE, FL – Police in Gainesville have announced an arrest in connection with a deadly hit-and-run crash.

According to a report by WGFL, 29-year-old Margaret Walker turned herself in in connection with the incident that happened on South Main Street on November 27, 2022.

Police said Walker was driving a Volvo XC-90 when she struck a bicycle rider and then left the scene. The victim’s body was discovered the following morning.

October 24, 2022

News: Driver flees after crashing vehicle into house in West Park

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MIAMI, FL – Police are searching for the driver who fled the scene after crashing their vehicle into a home in Miami’s West Park neighborhood early this morning.

According to CBS Miami, residents of the home were awoken by a loud noise at about 3 a.m. When they went to investigate, the discovered a vehicle crashed through the front of their home.

Fortunately, no one was injured as a result of the crash.

October 20, 2022

News: Driver sought in hit-and-run that injured bicyclist in Summerfield

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SUMMERFIELD, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said it is searching for the driver who left the scene of an accident in Marion County last week.

The Villages-News reports the incident took place Thursday on U.S. 301 near SE 142nd Place in Summerfield just before 3:30 a.m. A man was riding a bicycle on the shoulder of northbound U.S. 301 when he was clipped by the mirror of a pickup truck. The bicycle rider, a 42-year-old Summerfield resident, was seriously injured and taken to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital.

The FHP said the driver of the pickup truck kept going north on U.S. 301 after the accident. The vehicle being sought was described a 2019 white Ford. The pickup’s right-side mirror was located at the scene.