A 48-year-old Vero Beach man on an e-bike died after a hit-and-run crash with a pickup truck in Indian River County, said Florida Highway Patrol officials.
The man on the e-bike was traveling west in the westbound lane of Eighth Street approaching the intersection of 14th Avenue just before 9 p.m. Aug. 9, said FHP Lt. Indiana Miranda.
A pickup truck approaching behind the e-bike took evasive action in a southwest direction but didn’t avoid the e-bike, Miranda said. The truck partially entered the eastbound lane, and its right side hit the e-bike. The e-bike rider tumbled onto the roadway and came to a rest on the eastbound lane of Eighth Street.
The e-bike rider, described as a 48-year-old man from Vero Beach, was flown to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, where he was pronounced deceased, Miranda said. His identity hasn’t been released pending notification of his next of kin.
The driver of the pickup truck fled the scene without rendering aid or contacting law enforcement, Miranda said.
The pickup truck was described as a light-colored Ford F-150 between the years of 2015 and 2020, Miranda said. It’s missing its passenger sideview mirror.
The truck last was seen traveling west on Eighth Street, Indian River County sheriff’s Lt. Kevin Jaworski told TCPalm on the morning of Aug. 10. Sheriff’s deputies initially responded to crash before FHP took over the investigation.
Both eastbound and westbound Eighth Street were blocked after the crash, Miranda said. The investigation remained ongoing as of the morning of Aug. 10.
(This story was updated with new information.)
Laurie K. Blandford is a breaking news reporter with TCPalm. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida e-bike rider dies after hit-and-run crash near Vero Beach
Reporting by Laurie K. Blandford, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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By Laurie K. Blandford, Treasure Coast Newspapers | USA TODAY Network
