ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A pedestrian was struck and killed in a hit-and-run crash in Orange County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troopers said the crash happened at 10th Street and Belvedere Road on Sunday evening around 7 p.m.
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According to a crash report, a passing bicyclist discovered the unconscious 47-year-old man on the west shoulder of 10th Street.
FHP said they believe the man was walking northbound on the west shoulder of 10th Street, north of Belvedere Road and was struck by a vehicle they presume was traveling southbound on 10th Street, approaching Belvedere Road.
The pedestrian was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to FHP.
Troopers said they don’t have information on the vehicle involved at this time, but the scene remains active and under investigation.
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FHP Lt. Channing Taylor said there were no witnesses and no physical evidence found at the scene.
“We’re relying on the public to provide us that information. Anybody who may have seen something or heard something,” Taylor said. “They may not have known they hit somebody. At this point, it’s just too early to tell. We’re just asking the public to help us out here.”
A woman who lives in the area where the crash occurred said it’s common for people to drive erratically along Belvedere Road.
“People drive crazy out here and there are a lot of ATVs driving on the road at night with no lights,” said Denise Schneider said. “The way people drive out here, I’m not surprised that someone got hit. I don’t walk on the roads for specifically that reason.”
Schneider added that speed bumps were installed on Belvedere Road a few years ago due to people “almost drag racing” in the area.
“I’m terribly sad for whoever got hit by a vehicle and especially that the vehicle didn’t stop and render assistance if they could have,” she said.
Taylor said in hit-and-runs, which is a lot of what FHP deals with, the drivers involved get scared.
“Cooperation goes a long way,” he said. “If people would just stay and take responsibility for their actions... If they stayed and rendered aid, this gentleman was still alive, he might have survived... Stay at the scene. That’s very important.”
“Now, they’re going to have to keep this in the back of the mind for the rest of their lives that they didn’t take responsibility for their actions,” Taylor said. “I encourage, if they’re watching, to turn themselves in and I encourage anybody in the area to contact us.”
No witnesses to this crash have been located, troopers said.
Anyone with any information on this crash is encouraged to call FHP at 407-737-2200 or Crime Line at 800- 423-TIPS.
Note: Due to the information provided, this map depicts the general area of the crash and not necessarily its exact location.
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