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FHP: Driver hits and kills construction worker, flees in Lake Nona

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A 26-year-old Orlando man is in custody following this morning’s crash, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

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Troopers have not identified the man, but said he was driving along Narcoossee Road when he struck two pedestrians in an active construction zone at 2:30 a.m. Monday.

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One of those men, a 35-year-old worker with Flash-Rite, Inc., died on scene.

Troopers said the other pedestrian, a 48-year-old man, was hospitalized with serious injuries.

The crash happened after driver failed to negotiate a traffic shift in the construction zone, FHP said.

The driver struck two construction trucks before striking the men, trooper said.

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The driver then stuck a third vehicle before running away from the crash scene and into a marshy area off of Narcoossee Road.

Two officers with Florida’s Department of Agriculture who were working off-duty for the construction company detained the driver and held him until troopers arrived on scene.

Charges are pending against that driver, who is hospitalized with serious injuries, according to FHP.

Krysti Melmer is a resident who says she’s lived near the intersection her entire life. She says she wasn’t surprised when she heard about Monday’s crash.

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“It’s turned into a really dangerous intersection,” Melmer said. “There’s a lot of people that just don’t care.”

Stay with WFTV.com and watch Eyewitness News for updates on this developing story.

See map below for crash location:

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.


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