A woman in a wheelchair was killed on Saturday night after she was struck by an SUV while attempting to cross U.S Highway 27 in Ocala.
According to the Ocala Police department, officers responded to the 4500 block of NW Blitchton Road/U.S. Highway 27 at around 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, in reference to a vehicle crash involving a pedestrian.
OPD stated that the vehicle, a Mazda CX-7, was traveling eastbound on NW Blitchton Road in the inside lane. At the same time, the female pedestrian was crossing the roadway in her wheelchair, and the SUV proceeded to strike her.
The pedestrian was transported to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.
The Mazda’s driver was not injured and remained at the scene of the crash. No further details were released by Ocala police.
“Our hearts go out to the (pedestrian’s) loved ones during this difficult time,” said OPD in a media release on Sunday, March 2.
The fatal crash remains under investigation.
The death of another pedestrian in Ocala comes after a month of several similar incidents.
In late February, a 40-year-old man was killed after he was struck by a semi-truck, thrown into oncoming traffic, and ran over by an SUV while he was walking along U.S. Highway 301 in Marion County.
On February 10, a pedestrian was struck while attempting to cross W Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala.
On February 9, a pedestrian was killed after he was struck by multiple vehicles while attempting to cross a roadway near The Villages.
On February 8, a pedestrian was struck and killed on Interstate 75 in Marion County after he parked his vehicle on the side of the highway and began walking in and out of traffic.
Before those incidents, an Ocala truck driver fatally struck a pedestrian who was crossing a roadway in Citrus County.