Woman, 81, dies after being struck by car in SE Marion County

[File photo by Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

An 81-year-old Summerfield woman died early June 8 after she was struck by a car while crossing U.S. Highway 301 in southeast Marion County, the Florida Highway Patrol has reported.

The pedestrian fatality occurred around 1:30 a.m. as the victim attempted to cross the highway near Southeast 169th Street, according to an FHP press release.

“A Hyundai Elantra was traveling northbound on US Highway 301 north of Southeast 169th Street in the left lane. The victim, a pedestrian, was traveling west across the northbound lanes of US Highway 301. The left front corner of (the Hyundai) collided with (the victim). The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene,” the release stated.

The 24-year-old Ocala man driving the Hyundai was wearing a seat belt and was not injured, according to the press release.

The case is still under investigation.

The FHP Crash Dashboard at flhsmv.gov states from Jan. 1 to June 4 preliminary data indicates there have been nine pedestrian fatalities in Marion County and 29 total traffic fatalities in the same time frame.