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Ocala
Friday, March 29, 2024

7-year-old boy killed and teen arrested after hit-and-run crash

A 7-year-old boy was killed Friday night in the Florida Highlands area and a Dunnellon teenager was arrested a short time later in connection with the hit-and-run crash.

Kameron Blessitt, 17, was traveling east on SW 155th Street in a 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser shortly before 6 p.m. when he allegedly struck a bicycle ridden by 7-year-old Bryce Benson, of Dunnellon. The crash happened in the 10800 block of SW 155th Street near an unlit area of SW 108th Avenue, a Florida Highway Patrol report states.

Benson, who wasn’t wearing a helmet and was transported to Ocala Regional Medical Center, was riding with another bicyclist when the incident occurred and Blessitt was accused of leaving the scene. He was located a short time later and subsequently arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a crash without rendering aid and operating an unregistered motor vehicle, the FHP report says, adding that alcohol was not a factor in the incident.