Crash victim identified as New Smyrna Beach resident

A 34-year-old New Smyrna Beach man was killed Monday morning in a three-vehicle hit-and-run crash on Interstate 75 in Manatee County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. While the wreck happened across the state, the victim’s home community is just north of Edgewater, making the case one that will likely resonate with many local readers.

Troopers said the crash happened just before 6:30 a.m. near mile marker 220. Investigators say a dark-colored Ford Mustang moved from the left lane into the center lane and struck the front of an SUV. That impact pushed the SUV into the right lane and directly into the path of a semi-truck driven by the New Smyrna Beach man.

How the crash unfolded

According to FHP, the semi-truck then traveled across the southbound lanes and overturned onto its right side. The truck came to rest partially in the grass median and blocked all three southbound lanes. The truck driver suffered fatal injuries at the scene. The SUV driver, identified in one report as a 63-year-old Palmetto man, suffered minor injuries.

Investigators say the Mustang driver briefly stopped after the collision but then fled southbound. FHP described the driver as a stocky man wearing a gray hoodie. The vehicle was described as a black or dark-colored Mustang with rear louvers and possibly a camera mounted on the rear.

Investigation continues

The Florida Highway Patrol Traffic Homicide Unit is continuing to investigate. Authorities are asking anyone who witnessed the crash, has dashcam footage, or has information about the Mustang or its driver to contact FHP by dialing *347 or to reach out to Crime Stoppers.

For Edgewater-area readers, the story stands out because it involves a neighboring-town resident and an ongoing search for a hit-and-run driver. Cases like this often generate tips from people who may have seen the vehicle earlier, later, or on social media, especially when investigators release distinctive details about the suspect car.

Why it matters locally

Although the crash did not happen in Volusia County, it is still a significant public-safety story for this part of Southeast Volusia. New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater families, workers, and trucking professionals are closely connected, and news of a fatal crash involving a local resident carries clear community relevance.

Anyone with possible information is urged not to assume someone else has already called. In hit-and-run investigations, even a small detail about a vehicle’s appearance, direction of travel, or video equipment can help investigators narrow the search.