The Florida Highway Patrol is searching for the driver of a vehicle that was involved in a hit-and-run crash Saturday that left one Leesburg motorcyclist dead and three others seriously injured.
The crash took place shortly after 1:05 p.m. in Lake County when a 2004 Dodge Stratus turned east onto State Road 44 from Jay Street and traveled into the path of two oncoming motorcycles. The Stratus then made an “abrupt” left turn into a parking lot on the north side of the road, just east of the intersection, a FHP report states.
The front of the motorcycles struck the left side of the Stratus, which fled the scene. A 37-year-old Leesburg woman who was a passenger on one of the motorcycles was killed. The driver of that motorcycle, a 47-year-old Leesburg man, was seriously injured.
The second motorcyclist, a 44-year-old Eustis man, and his 40-year-old female passenger also sustained serious injuries, the report says, adding that its unknown if any of the motorcyclists were wearing helmets.
Lake County sheriff’s deputies quickly responded to assist FHP troopers and located a possible suspect vehicle in an adjacent neighborhood. The vehicle had damage consistent with the one involved in the crash and was covered by a mattress. No occupants were located, the report says.
The crash remains under investigation and charges are pending against the driver of the Stratus. Anyone with information about that driver or the crash is asked to contact Crimeline or the FHP at (407) 737-2213.
