Ocala, FL : Pedestrian killed in hit-and-run crash on SR 200 in Ocala on Friday, 28th February, 2020

Ocala police officers are seeking the public’s assistance in finding a hit-and-run driver who struck and killed a pedestrian and left the scene early Friday morning.

Police said they were notified about the incident at 12:25 a.m. When they arrived, they saw the victim deceased in the eastbound center lane of the 4200 block of State Road 200.

At the time of his death, police said the victim was wearing dark clothing. Officers identified the man as Justin Bauer, 44, of Ocala.

The area where the crash occurred is dimly lit.

According to police, it appears Bauer was crossing SR 200 from north to south. The man crossed the westbound lanes and made his way to the eastbound lanes, while darting out in front of traffic.

Evidence on scene indicates Bauer was struck in the inside lane and thrown into the center lane, where he was run over at least once by another vehicle.

Police said the first vehicle that hit Bauer left the scene in an easterly direction.

The fatality is the first of the year for the city, and the third traffic death in all of Marion County since Wednesday.

In 2019, city officers recorded 13 traffic deaths, with one of them involving a hit-and-run fatality.

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