Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
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.
Acting on a tip received on July 27, state troopers found the vehicle believed to have been involved in the fatal accident, a 2006 Chrysler 300, at a parking lot in northwest Ocala. It had front-end damage consistent with the crash.
Inside the vehicle was 25-year-old Erik Christian Neil Gillis and a woman, according to the FHP. After interviewing both, troopers arrested Gillis and he was booked into the Marion County Jail on a charge of hit-and-run/fail to stop/remain at crash involving death. Court records indicated he had been found guilty in 2024 of violation of right-of-way stop sign and in 2022 for driving without a valid license.
Craig Forrest’s son was quoted in the report as saying his father had been heading home from a fishing trip when his vehicle became stuck and he decided to walk home. The area is dark without any street lighing, troopers said.
If you have lost a loved one in an accident caused by a driver’s wrongful actions, contact Whittel & Melton to speak with our experienced Florida wrongful death lawyers. We can help your family pursue compensation for medical bills incurred prior to death, funeral costs, loss of future earnings, and more. Additionally, this compensation can help alleviate the financial burden and emotional distress caused by the loss of a loved one. We can be reached through our online contact form or by phone at 866-608-5529 to schedule a free consultation.