Bicyclist dies after being hit by car Tuesday night in northeast Ocala
Editor's note: This story was updated at 3:40 p.m. to include more information about the victim.
A bicyclist was hit by a car and killed Tuesday night in northeast Ocala. Here's what we know:
Who died?
The Florida Highway Patrol said the victim was a 39-year-old homeless man. The agency no longer release names of those involved in crashes.
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What happened?
FHP officials said an older model Toyota Camry was westbound on Northeast 35th Street, approaching 16th Court. The man riding the bicycle was traveling east in the westbound lane of 35th Street.
Troopers said the driver was unable to see the bicycle rider on the roadway and the two collided head-on.
Upon impact, the rider was thrown from the bicycle and onto the grassy shoulder.
The speed limit on the roadway is 35 mph. It's unknown if speed was a factor. The crash occurred shortly after 10 p.m.
The Toyota driver was identified only as a 17-year-old boy from Ocala. The vehicle's three passengers − ages 21, 20 and 16, all from Orange Park − were not injured. The investigation continues, and no one has been arrested.
Damage
Both the car and the bicycle had severe damage. The car's front windshield was cracked, and one of the headlights was knocked out.
The bicycle was spilt into three separate sections, all scattered throughout a nearby front yard.
The front wheel landed near the front door. The front of the bicycle was in the front yard, and the back of the bicycle, which had a chain, was on the opposite end of the front yard.
The victim's body was near a tree that was close to the roadway.
Neighbors responded
A woman who lives near the crash scene told a Star-Banner reporter that she called 911 after hearing tires squealing and then screaming.
She said the roadway needs more lighting. The spot where the crash occurred was dark.
A second neighbor agreed that the road needs more streetlights. His home surveillance video system recorded the crash.
Road fatality numbers
FHP officials said Tuesday's death is the 24th traffic death for the year. At this time last year, the total was 28. Troopers recorded 99 traffic fatalities in unincorporated Marion County for 2022.
The numbers do not reflect traffic deaths in Ocala, Belleview or Dunnellon.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Bicycle rider dies Tuesday night after being hit by car in NE Ocala
