Deadly start to holiday weekend in Marion: 3 traffic deaths, including 1 hit-and-run

A pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run crash early Saturday on State Road 40 east of Southwest 60th Avenue, according to Florida Highway Patrol troopers and Ocala Police Department officers on scene.

Shortly after 6 a.m., police received a call about someone on the sidewalk at SR 40 West and Southwest 57th Avenue.

When officers arrived, they found the person deceased and began their investigation. Authorities believe the victim, identified as a man, was hit sometime overnight and the driver left the scene.

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The 29-year-old victim

Evidence technicians placed 22 small yellow markers along the roadway. Since the scene is in the county, the investigation was turned over to the FHP.

The westbound lanes of SR 40 were blocked at Southwest 52nd Avenue so troopers could continue their investigation and wait for the Medical Examiner's Office to come collect the body.

Once the investigation was completed, the roadway was re-opened at 11:15 a.m.

FHP officials said they believe the vehicle that struck and killed the 29-year-old Ocala man is a 2008 to 2013 dark gray Toyota Corolla or Honda Accord that should have damages to the front right headlights, hood and bumper.

The victim's brother told a Star-Banner reporter on Saturday that Domonique lived in Ocala for 15 years and was a good man.

The man, who didn't want to reveal his name or his brother's last name, said Domonique lived with him and his mother.

He said they were asleep when a neighbor knocked on their door. The man said the neighborhood told them about law enforcement investigating a man's death and went to the scene.

Domonique's brother said Domonique loved walking and it wasn't unusual for him to walk everywhere. He said his brother walked for the exercise.

Two more traffic deaths on Friday

On Friday, FHP officials responded to two single-vehicle crashes at opposite ends of the county.

In the first crash on Friday, FHP troopers said a 51-year-old woman died at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital after she was taken to the facility for treatment after the wreck.

Troopers said the Belleview woman was driving a Toyota Sedan southbound on U.S. 301 when the vehicle veered off the roadway and struck a tree near Southeast 147th Street in Summerfield.

Authorities said they received information about the crash shortly before 9:40 a.m.

More than 12 hours later, troopers were notified about a fiery crash on Southeast 95th Street in Belleview.

At that location, FHP officials said an 18-year-old Ocala man driving a Honda Civic was eastbound when he veered left onto a grassy patch on the side of the road. The vehicle then struck a tree head-on. Upon impact, the car caught fire.

A motorist called 911 about the crash, which officials said happened at 10:40 p.m. The motorist, a man, told troopers that the vehicle was behind him and it steadily drifted off the roadway.

Troopers said they were told that the victim was on his way to pick up his mother from work.

Marion County Fire Rescue officials said they extinguish the flames, which had engulfed the front portion of the vehicle, in less than a minute. Firefighters were unable to rescue the driver.

The crash was so horrific, some of the vehicle parts were scattered throughout the car. The crash blocked the roadway for several hours.

At night, a large section of Southeast 95th Street is very dark. The area where the crash happened was near Southeast Seventh Avenue Road.

The speed limit along SE 95th Street varies from 30 mph to 45 mph. Troopers said the driver was speeding.

Two other recent crash deaths

On June 25, troopers said, a man riding a bicycle was hit along County Road 326 near Northwest 49th Avenue.

The 38-year-old man, who FHP officials said had a Tennessee address, was taken to a local hospital, where he later died.

Officials believe the vehicle that struck the man was a pickup truck that should have damage to the front or right side. it left the scene after the crash.

On Thursday afternoon, a 71-year-old Micanopy man died at a local hospital following a single-vehicle crash on Northwest 193rd Street just west of 60th Avenue.

So far, 50 people have died in traffic wrecks in Marion County during 2022. That total does not include traffic deaths investigated by the Ocala, Belleview and Dunnellon police departments.

Troopers said 80 people died in traffic crashes in the county – excluding Ocala, Belleview and Dunnellon – in 2021.

FHP troopers are asking anyone with any information about any of the hit-and-run deaths to call (352)512-6643, Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP or visit www.crimestoppers.com.

Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: July 4 weekend off to deadly start on roads in Marion County, Florida