Hillsborough County, FL — April 8, 2025, one person was killed in a hit-and-run truck accident at about 11:30 p.m. on northbound Interstate 75.

Authorities said a man was hit by a Ford F-350 hauling a cattle trailer after he had gotten out of his car to help his brother, who was in a disabled semi-truck on the shoulder near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. The truck did not stop after the collision.

The man who was hit, a 27-year-old Ocala man, died at the scene of the crash, according to authorities. His name has not been made public.

The Ford driver was arrested at a nearby gas station while changing a tire, authorities said. He has been charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Crashes involving pedestrians on the shoulder of a highway are always serious, but when the vehicle involved is a commercial truck, or a truck used for commercial purposes, that fails to stop afterward, the legal and ethical implications go from serious to unforgivable. According to reports, a man who had exited his vehicle to assist with a disabled semi-truck was struck and killed by a Ford F-350 hauling a cattle trailer. The driver of that truck left the scene and was later arrested nearby.

From a legal standpoint, leaving the scene of a fatal crash is among the most serious offenses a driver can commit. It denies the victim any possibility of immediate aid, hinders the investigation and reflects a blatant disregard for human life. When the driver behind the wheel is operating a vehicle used for business — whether it's livestock, equipment or freight — the responsibility is even greater. These drivers are expected to meet higher standards of awareness and accountability because of the size and danger their vehicles pose.

The man who was struck had reportedly gotten out of his car to help someone, his own brother, in a disabled semi-truck. That action speaks to basic human decency. And yet, while trying to provide assistance on the shoulder of a busy interstate, he was hit and left behind. That outcome demands a full investigation, not just into the crash, but into how the Ford F-350 was being operated at that hour. Was the driver distracted? Speeding? Fatigued? Impaired? What role, if any, did lighting, visibility or vehicle markings play?

Investigators should also examine whether the vehicle was properly equipped for nighttime driving. A truck hauling a cattle trailer should have functioning lights, reflective surfaces and appropriate mirrors to ensure that the driver can see the full range of what's happening around them. If any of those systems were compromised, it could help explain how the crash happened, but it would also point to negligence.

The fact that the driver was located while changing a tire adds yet another layer. Did he even know he hit someone? If so, why didn’t he stop? If not, why was he driving in a condition that left him unaware of striking a person?

In the end, this crash is about more than a single fatal moment. It’s about the decisions that lead someone to flee instead of stop. It’s about the duty that comes with operating a heavy-duty vehicle on public roads. And it’s about the responsibility commercial drivers, and those who rely on them, have to ensure that the work they do doesn’t come at the cost of someone else’s life. Crashes like this don’t just call for accountability: they demand it.