On Jan. 13, just before 7 p.m., a car heading south on U.S. 27 toward Margaux Drive in the right lane struck a man waiting by his car on the side of the road while a tow truck started to transport it to another location, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The 2002 Ford F-550 tow truck was stopped partially in the outside lane and outside shoulder of U.S. 27 north of Margaux Drive.
The tow truck passenger was waving traffic over to the next lane while the tow truck driver assisted him with removing the disabled vehicle from the roadway.
The passing vehicle failed to move over, and as a result, struck the passenger/disabled truck driver in front, who was then propelled and hit the driver’s side mirror of the tow truck, the patrol reported.
The car then continued southbound, turned right onto Margaux Drive, struck a decorative rock in the center median, and turned around to flee the scene southbound on U.S. 27.
The Ford driver was pronounced deceased on scene, and the hit-and-run driver fled south on U.S. 27, the patrol reported.
The Daily Commercial has not received word on the man’s identity, but we will update this story online once we’re notified.
Anyone with information about the Jan. 13 crash is asked to call Florida Highway Patrol at 407-737-2213 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.
Is there a description of the car that struck the pedestrian?
According to the patrol, a witness described the vehicle that struck the man and tow truck as a white Kia Soul with an Indiana license plate. There is no further information on the driver, the FHP reported, and the crash remains under investigation.
Why crashes like this led to a new Florida law
“Leaving the scene of a crash that results in property damage, injury, or death is against the law,” an FHP spokesperson told the media when reporting the fatal crash.
FHP emphasizes that drivers learn be mindful of the new law requiring drivers to move over a lane — when they can safely do so — for stopped law enforcement, emergency, sanitation, utility service vehicles, tow trucks or wreckers, maintenance or construction vehicles with displaying warning lights, andany disabled vehicle on the side of the road.
If you can’t move over — or when on a two-lane road — slow to a speed that is 20 mph less than the posted speed limit. Learn more about the Florida Move Over law at flhsmv.gov/safety-center/driving-safety/move-over.
In 2022, more than 170 crashes occurred and more than 14,000 citations were issued to motorists failing to move over for disabled vehicles in Florida, the state has reported.
What should you do if you’re involved in a vehicle crash?
The Florida Highway Patrol reminds drivers about the consequences of leaving the scene of a crash and the challenges that law enforcement officers face when investigating a hit-and-run crash.
If involved in a crash, stay at the scene, call for help, and follow these steps:
Make sure you and any passengers are OK. Remain calm.
If possible, move to the side of the road. Remove your keys if you leave your vehicle, move off the roadway, and stay in a safe area.
Check on others involved. Call 911 if anyone might be injured or a vehicle is inoperable.
If there are no injuries or major property damage, gather information. Get the name, driver’s license, insurance, and tag information from the other driver(s). Take photos of the vehicles and information if you can’t write it down and then file a report online.
Learn more about hit-and-run penalties at https://www.flhsmv.gov/safety-center/driving-safety/hitrun/
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Fatal hit-and-run in Lake County, and driver still at large