Two Men Killed in Separate Florida Pedestrian Accidents on Thanksgiving

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on December 1, 2012

Two men were struck and killed in separate pedestrian accidents in Ocala on Thanksgiving Day. The first accident occurred at 1:15 a.m. that morning when a man trying to cross the intersection of South Pine Avenue and Southwest 10th Street was struck and killed in the crosswalk by a hit-and-run driver. One witness told Ocala police officers that she saw the victim running southbound on the crosswalk when he was struck by an eastbound driver who sped away from the scene. The victim was a 23-year-old Ocala college student who was home visiting family for the holiday.

Ocala police interviewed a man who told them he was a passenger in a red Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV that struck a pedestrian and then drove away. He told officers that the SUV was driven by his 25-year-old friend who was driving east on Southwest 10th Street and had hit someone at South Pine Avenue. He told officers that he told the driver to stop, but his friend kept driving. He told police that he hopped out of the SUV at a stop sign and his friend drove away. After interviewing the man, police went to a residence in the 200 block of Southeast 32nd Avenue and arrested the driver. He told officers that he had been drinking before the accident and was afraid of getting arrested. He now faces multiple charges, including leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

The second fatal accident occurred around 7:40 p.m. that evening. Florida Highway Patrol troopers report that a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a 40-year-old Ocala man was northbound in the right lane of U.S. 301 when it struck and killed a 42-year-old Summerfield man walking in the right lane. The accident occurred near the intersection of County Road 42 and U.S. 301 in a poorly lighted section of the roadway. Police say that the driver had been drinking in a bar near the scene of the accident but do not yet know if alcohol was a contributing factor in the accident.

These two victims add to Central Florida’s unfortunate reputation as the most dangerous place in the country for pedestrians. There are several different reasons why our region has so many pedestrian accidents each year, but a common thread in most of the accidents is a negligent driver. If you or a member of your family has been injured in a pedestrian accident and you would like to speak with an experienced Orlando pedestrian accident lawyer, call James O. Cunningham today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587). Mr. Cunningham opened his law practice in 1977 and is one of the most experienced and respected Orlando personal injury attorneys in the area. Call today to schedule your free consultation and get an effective and aggressive attorney on your side!

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.