SPD investigates two Friday night hit-and-run fatalities

Two pedestrians were struck and killed within 20 minutes on Fruitville Road. SPD investigators do not suspect the two incidents are related.

By Andrew Warfield
| 2:00 p.m. January 30, 2023

Sarasota
News

Two fatal hit-and-run incidents that occurred Friday, Jan. 27 are under investigation by the Sarasota Police Department Traffic Unit. Although both incidents happened on Fruitville Road, investigators do not believe they are connected.

The first happened on Fruitville Road near Orange Avenue at about 11:30 p.m. The victim, a 56-year-old man, was transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries. He died from his injuries at the hospital a short time later.

The second, at Fruitville Road near Beneva Road, occurred about 20 minutes later at 11:50 p.m. When officers arrived, a 64-year-old Tennessee man was found deceased at the scene. The driver did not remain at the scene after hitting the man, witnesses told officers.

Police are seeking additional information or videos from either of these cases. Witnesses are asked to call SPD at 941-263-6822 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-8477 or online at SarasotaCrimeStoppers.com.

author

Andrew Warfield

Andrew Warfield is the Sarasota Observer city reporter. He is a four-decade veteran of print media. A Florida native, he has spent most of his career in the Carolinas as a writer and editor, nearly a decade as co-founder and editor of a community newspaper in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.