Man, 32, killed in hit-and-run crash on Orange Avenue near Sand Lake Road

ORLANDO, Fla. – A man was struck and killed Wednesday morning in a hit-and-run crash in Orange County, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The fatal crash happened on southbound Orange Avenue at Office Court, just north of Sand Lake Road.

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The FHP said rescue units were called around 5:30 a.m. about a person lying in the southbound lane of Orange Avenue.

Troopers determined that the 32-year-old Orlando man had been struck by a vehicle, the FHP said. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to troopers, the man was traveling south on Orange Avenue on a bicycle, which had lights that were on. It’s not known what type of vehicle struck the victim, but troopers said the front of the vehicle hit the back of the bicycle and ran over the man.

“There should be damage to the vehicle with a crash like this,” Capt. Chris Sorvillo with FHP said.

FHP said the incident marks the 21st fatal hit-and-run crash this year in Orange County.

For the same time period in 2020, troopers investigated eight fatal hit-and-runs in Orange County, according to the FHP. In all of 2020, there were 20 victims who died in hit-and-runs in Orange County, according to data from the FHP.

There were 11 fatal hit-and-runs in Orange County in 2019 and 2018, troopers said.

Sorvillo said hit-and-run crashes have “gone astronomically through the roof right now.”

“To have 21 fatal hit-and-run crashes this year, that’s 21 families who want answers on how their loved ones can be left to die,” Lt. Kim Montes with FHP said.

When asked about solutions or what it would take to try and prevent so many fatal hit-and-run crashes, Montes said, “I really don’t know what the answer is. I think law enforcement is frustrated, families are frustrated, this falls back on drivers who are absolutely not doing the right thing.”

Troopers said they do not know yet what time the crash happened. An FHP investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crimeline or the FHP at 407-737-2213.