Pedestrian, 77, dies after being struck by SUV in SW Marion County

[Photo courtesy FHP]

A 77-year-old pedestrian died after being struck by an SUV in southwest Marion County the evening of Nov. 8 in an unlighted area, the Florida Highway Patrol reports.

According to an FHP press release, the fatality occurred around 9:40 p.m. on Southwest 80th Avenue just south of Southwest 63rd Street Road.

An SUV driven by a 74-year-old-Ocala man was traveling south on Southwest 80th Avenue as the victim walked westbound across the same roadway, according to the press release.

“The SUV driver failed to observe the pedestrian crossing the roadway, causing (the SUV’s) front right to collide with the pedestrian,” the press release stated.

The site of the fatality was described in the press release as “dark—not lighted area.”

The SUV driver and a 76-year-old female passenger both wore seat belts and neither was injured, according to the press release.

According to FHP data at flhsmv.gov., from Jan.1, 2024, to Oct. 23, 2024, there were 103 crashes involving pedestrians and 13 pedestrian deaths in Marion County. The site notes that “data is considered preliminary as of Oct. 26, 2024.”