Pedestrian Killed in Hit and Run Crash

A 52-year-old Sarasota man was killed along U.S. 41 early this morning when a vehicle struck the pedestrian and drove away leaving him in the middle of the road. A second car did not see the person in the road and also struck him.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol:

The pedestrian, whose name is being withheld until his next of kin can be notified, was walking in a southbound direction on the east shoulder of US 41 near 89th Street East in Palmetto. An unknown vehicle was traveling north in the outside lane of US 41 when the front of the vehicle hit the pedestrian.

The driver left the scene and a second vehicle traveling north in the outside lane of U.S. 41 didn't see the pedestrian laying in the roadway and also struck
him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

It was the second fatal hit and run in Manatee County in two days.

A pedestrian was killed just after midnight Monday while walking westbound along 51st Avenue East when a car also traveling westbound hit the person and kept driving. The pedestrian came to final rest in a nearby ditch and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Florida Highway Patrol reports.

The Florida Highway Patrol is asking anyone who may have witnessed either crash or has any knowledge as to the identity of the driver or the vehicle to contact Trooper Gerry Smith, crash investigator with the Florida Highway Patrol at 239-938-1800.