Spring Hill Man, 75, Killed Crossing U.S. 19; FHP Seeks Witnesses

A 75-year-old Spring Hill man was pronounced dead at the scene early Monday after being struck by a southbound Ford F-350 towing a trailer and subsequently hit by several more vehicles while attempting to cross U.S. 19 just south of Long Lake Avenue, Florida Highway Patrol troopers said.

The collision occurred at approximately 4:38 a.m. on March 16. According to FHP, the pedestrian entered the path of the Ford F-350, which was traveling in the southbound outside lane. The truck's driver, a 47-year-old man from Tennessee, remained at the scene after the initial impact.

The sequence of strikes is now central to the investigation. After the F-350 hit the man, additional vehicles struck him before he came to rest in the roadway. Troopers believe those vehicles may include a white sedan and a black SUV, though investigators have not confirmed their involvement. Identifying those drivers is a key focus of the ongoing case, FHP said.

No name has been released for the victim, pending notification of next of kin.

U.S. 19 through Spring Hill has a long history of fatal pedestrian crashes, and the pre-dawn hour and multi-lane configuration near Long Lake Avenue create conditions that have claimed lives on this corridor before. The stretch sees heavy commercial truck traffic at all hours.

FHP investigators are asking anyone who was driving southbound on U.S. 19 near Long Lake Avenue around 4:38 a.m. Monday, or who has dashcam or surveillance footage from that time and location, to contact the Florida Highway Patrol. The agency noted the case remains open and that updates will be released as they become available. Official crash reports through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles may take up to 10 days to appear in the state's online portal.