Driver sought in fatal hit-and-run

[File photo by Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

The Florida Highway Patrol is seeking the driver of a SUV that struck two men working on a disabled dump truck along a southwest Marion County roadside the evening of Oct. 28 and fled the scene. One man died and the other was seriously injured, according to an FHP press release.

The hit and run occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Southwest 27th Circle, just north of Southwest 137th Loop, the press release stated.

According to the release, the two men, ages 76 and 45, were working on a disabled dump truck on the right-side grassy shoulder of Southwest 27th Circle when an SUV approached traveling south on Southwest 27th Circle and the “driver … failed to safely negotiate a left-hand curve and exited the roadway while approaching the pedestrians. The SUV entered the west grass shoulder and struck the deceased victim with its right side. The SUV then struck the injured man with its right front section, causing him to be propelled south and collide with a parked and unoccupied SUV.”

Both men were transported to a hospital, where the older man was pronounced deceased.

The press release states that the driver first pulled over then fled the scene.

An “independent witness” described the vehicle that left the scene as a gray or silver Jeep Cherokee.

Anyone with information is asked to call Cpl. Justin Bard at (352) 512-6643 or reach out to Crime Stoppers of Marion County at ocalacrimestoppers.com