SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. – A 63-year-old Lake Mary man walking in a Sumter County roadway was struck by a vehicle overnight that took off from the scene, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The man, later identified as Mike Berry, was found around 8 a.m. Saturday in the center median of U.S. 301, south of County Road 102, troopers said.
According to a preliminary FHP statement, Mike is believed to have been walking in the southbound inside lane of U.S. 301 when he was struck. Based on vehicle parts left behind at the scene of the wreck, the suspect vehicle is thought to be an unknown color 1992-97 Ford Econoline passenger or cargo van that was traveling south on U.S. 301 and would be missing its left front headlight housing, the statement reads.
His family believes he was in the area to play poker at the Oxford Downs Poker Room Friday night.
“My dad was an avid poker player, and he was known to go to poker rooms in the Central Florida area,” said Mike’s son, Max Berry. “There’s really not much else in that area, not even bars or restaurants. He didn’t have any friends there that we know of, so we think he went out there by himself to play some late poker Friday.”
He spent his adult life working in journalism, and interviewed Muhammad Ali, Bill Clinton, celebrities, athletes, and politicians. He worked for Lake Mary Life magazine for the last 10 years. Prior to that he worked for the Orlando Sentinel for 20 years where he worked as an education reporter and then copy editor.
“The Oxford Downs Poker Room is right off a really busy highway, cars driving really fast. Accidents happen, but leaving the scene is never ok. We need this person to be held accountable,” Max said. “I can’t imagine that there are an incredible amount of, you know, 30-something-year-old cars on the road. So, if you know someone who drives an old Ford from the mid 90′s and there’s any damage, a missing headlight, someone just got a brand-new headlight, you see anything that seems odd, please use your good sense and call the tip line.”
Anyone with information about the crash was urged to call *FHP (*347), or Crime Stoppers at **TIPS (**8477) to remain anonymous.
“This is my father, and he has a 9-year-old grandchild and a sister, and family that wants to just go through the normal process of grieving, but it’s hard when you have this investigation and someone’s at large, someone is out there walking freely when they need to be in custody and held accountable,” Max said. “The fact that this happened in such a senseless, abrupt way, is sad, but we’ll fight for his memory and fight for justice until we get it.”
Note: This map depicts the general area of this crash and not necessarily its exact location.
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