Local
Pedestrian Killed in Hit-and-Run Near St. Johns Town Center Costco
A man attempting to cross Gate Parkway near the Costco at St. Johns Town Center was struck and killed by a commercial vehicle Friday evening, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. The driver fled the scene, and no arrest has been announced.
A pedestrian was killed Friday evening when a commercial vehicle struck him as he tried to cross Gate Parkway near the Costco at St. Johns Town Center, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said. The driver did not stop and remains at large.
The victim, an adult man, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to JSO. Authorities have not released his name pending notification of next of kin.
The crash occurred on Gate Parkway, a busy multi-lane arterial that carries heavy retail traffic through the Town Center corridor and past the Costco warehouse store. The stretch is lined with shopping centers, parking lot entrances and bus stops, and pedestrians frequently cross it to reach stores and transit.
JSO's traffic homicide unit is investigating. Anyone with information about the vehicle or the driver is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office or Crime Stoppers.
The death adds to a grim tally of pedestrian fatalities on Jacksonville's commercial corridors. Advocates for safer streets have repeatedly urged the city to improve crosswalks, lighting and traffic-calming measures on roads like Gate Parkway, where wide lanes and high speeds leave people on foot exposed. Friday's crash underscores those concerns: a person attempting a routine crossing was killed, and the vehicle that hit him kept going.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as JSO releases more information.