Marion County Pedestrian Accident Kills 20-Year-Old Ocala Resident

Troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol are involved in an investigation into a pedestrian accident that took place on Sunday, March 14^th, and resulted in the death of a 20-year-old Ocala resident. According to the reports currently issued by the FHP, the incident began early in the morning on the Sunday in question. At this time, it is believed that the woman was on foot and walking near to the intersection of U.S. 441 and Southeast 45th Street. The reports remain tight-lipped on what exactly the Florida Highway Patrol believes took place, but it appears as though the person attempted to cross the street at this intersection at the same time that a car was traveling through the area.

Regardless of whether or not the pedestrian was obeying the posted pedestrian laws, it is the responsibility of people within vehicles to keep an eye out for unexpected things within the road – including people on foot where they perhaps shouldn’t be. This was not the stance of the driver of a vehicle that came down either U.S. 441 or Southeast 45th Street when they approached the area of the street where the woman was walking. The driver of this car failed to appropriately navigate around the pedestrian, and this resulted in the 20-year-old being struck by the vehicle and knocked to the ground.

Because emergency response crews were not notified as to this occurrence, it is not clear what the condition of the pedestrian was after this initial collision.

Sometime after being struck by the first car, a second vehicle entered the scene. This car was headed down the southern lanes of U.S. 411, which is where the pedestrian was lying prone. The reports indicated that the driver of the second vehicle failed to notice the pedestrian until it was too late, and this resulted in the car striking the pedestrian while they were still lying in the road.

The driver of this vehicle and the others within the car remained at the scene while first responders rushed to the area. When paramedics and EMTs reached the pedestrian they attempted to revive them, but there was nothing that could be done. The pedestrian was declared dead at the scene.

An investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

Sources:

• Ocala woman left lying in road dies after getting hit by car, troopers say

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.