Vehicles sought in fatal crashes
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating two hit and run crashes within 24 hours in Marion County and has identified the suspected vehicles.
Photo courtesy of FHP
UPDATE: The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate fatal hit and run crashes on Feb. 16 in northeast Marion County and on Feb. 18 in northwest Marion County, less than 24 hours apart.
The agency has determined the types of vehicles involved in each crash but is still seeking additional information. FHP press releases indicate that crash site debris points to two models of vehicles, both of which should have front-end damage.
The agency reported on Feb. 18 that a pedestrian was struck and killed by a “sport utility vehicle” around 8:30 a.m. on County Road 25A, also known as Gainesville Road, just north of Northwest 100th Place and about two miles north of State Road 326. A later press release stated that crash debris indicated that a 2007 to 2009 Accura MDX SUV, dark gray in color, was involved.
The SUV was traveling north in the northbound lane of CR 25A and the victim was “positioned in the area of the roadside and east shoulder CR 25A,” north of (the SUV). A 47-year-old Ocala man, not identified by name, was struck and sustained “fatal injuries,” the release stated.
Anyone with information about that crash is asked to call Cpl. Justin Bard at (352) 512-6643 or text *FHP.
FHP had reported on Feb. 16 the hit and run death of a 35-year-old Ocala man who was riding a bicycle westbound on County Road 314 at Northeast 68th Court by an unknown type of vehicle around 7:39 p.m. That location is about one mile east of State Road 35 (Baseline Road) on CR 314. CR 314 becomes Northeast 7th Street on the west side of SR 35.
A later FHP press release stated that based upon crash site debris the vehicle involved in this crash was a 2010-2015 Chevrolet Equinox that will have “noticeable front-end damage.”
The man was traveling west on CR 314 “within the westbound travel lane” ahead of the vehicle, which was also westbound. The vehicle struck the bicyclist and “departed the scene.” The bicyclist later died at a hospital, the release stated.
Anyone with information about that crash is asked to call Cpl. Brett Detweiler at (352) 512-6644 or text *FHP.
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