Tampa driver hits, kills man crossing U.S. 19 in Crystal River, troopers say

CRYSTAL RIVER — Two vehicles including one driven by a Tampa man struck and killed a pedestrian as he was walking across U.S. 19 in Crystal River on Thursday morning, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The collision occurred about 7 a.m. at the highway’s intersection with 8th Terrace. Troopers were trying to locate the next of the kin of the victim, a 46-year-old Crystal River man.

The Tampa man, 39, driving a sport utility vehicle, and a 70-year-old Crystal River man, driving a pickup truck, were headed north when the pedestrian walked west into their paths, the Highway Patrol said.

At the scene of the collision, U.S. 19 has three travel lanes in each direction plus turn lanes and a median and is lined by gas stations, a bank and retail stores.

Both vehicles struck the pedestrian and he died at the scene. The Highway Patrol did not release the names of the drivers.