BREAKING NEWS Know your zone: Evacuation zones ahead of Milton

Teen in crosswalk critically injured after hit-and-run crash on US-41 in Lely

Reporter: Taylor Smith Writer: Derrick Shaw
Published: Updated:
Troopers are investigating a hit-and-run that left a teenager injured Thursday morning. (Credit: Google Street View)

A Collier County teenager was sent to the hospital Thursday morning after someone in a truck hit him while he was crossing US-41 in a crosswalk and then left the scene.

The Florida Highway Patrol said they got the call around 7 a.m., and responded to the Whistlers Cove apartment complex along US-41 at Southwest Boulevard in Lely. 

Troopers said the 14-year-old was in the crosswalk and carrying his skateboard when he was struck. He was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital with several possible fractures. He was listed in critical condition, according to FHP.

Investigators are looking for information about the driver and the truck, and say the vehicle is possibly a Ford F-150 and dark in color, possibly black. The truck most likely has front-end damage.

The 911 calls made after the crash have since been released.

“They are laying in the road and we need an ambulance immediately,” said the caller.

“Do you know what happened? Can you ask?”

“No, I can’t ask him right now, his leg is completely broken.”

Juan Ogaldo and Janice Johnson live at a nearby apartment complex and witnessed the scene.

“What I saw was devastating and I’m hoping he is alive,” Ogaldo said. “We gotta be more careful out here. This isn’t the first time this has happened at this intersection.”

“Sometimes cars in the ditch, sometimes head-on collisions, kids, it’s just… I don’t know why it’s like that, but this intersection just has been a very dangerous intersection,” Ogaldo said.

The Florida Highway Patrol no longer releases names of crash victims, citing Marsy’s Law.

Anyone with information should call the FHP at 239-344-1730 or Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).

Trust WINK News for updates as information is made available.

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