VERO BEACH SOUTH — Troopers continue to search for the driver of a damaged pickup truck who struck and killed an unidentified 48-year-old Vero Beach bicyclist before fleeing the scene late Sunday. The collision led deputies to block Eighth Street for six hours.
“The truck was last seen traveling westbound on Eighth Street,” said Lt. Kevin Jaworski, a spokesperson for the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
The wreck involving the e-bike and a Ford F-150 pickup truck happened about 9 p.m. Sunday, August 9 along Eighth Street in Vero Beach South. The bicyclist was traveling westbound on Eighth Street and was directly ahead of the pickup.
Troopers said the truck’s driver attempted to evade the bicyclist by driving in a southwesterly direction. The truck partially entered the eastbound lane, but did not avoid the bicyclist.
The right side of the truck struck the bicyclist, knocking him to the ground, according to troopers. The truck’s driver drove away from the crash without helping the bicyclist or calling 911.
The bicyclist was taken to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, where doctors pronounced him dead, troopers said.
Troopers said the truck is a light-colored Ford F-150 that is missing its right-side rear-view mirror. The truck was made between the years 2015 to 2020.
The deadly crash remains under investigation.
