ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – St. Johns County Sheriff's Office is investigating a fatal hit-and-run traffic accident involving a bicyclist in the area of Hilltop Road and Kings Estate Road.
The victim was identified as 26-year-old Madison Jacob Meyer, of St. Augustine.
Deputies along with St. Johns County Fire Rescue responded to the area at 6:53 a.m. Sunday morning and found Meyer lying on the side of the road dead. Law enforcement found a bicycle nearby which appeared to be struck by a vehicle.
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The initial investigation revealed Meyer was traveling south on Hilltop Road when a vehicle struck him from behind. Detectives believe the incident possibly occurred sometime early Sunday morning.
Detectives in the Major Crimes Unit along with the Traffic Section are investigating the incident. They are asking that anyone with any information, please call Deputy Joseph McGinnis at 904-209-1498 or Crime Stoppers at 888-277-TIPS.
This is the second deadly hit-and-run accident in St. Johns County in as many days.
Rafhel Mahese, 37, was killed Saturday morning in a hit-and-run crash on Interstate 95 northbound, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
According to police, a van Mahese was driving was pulled over with its hood up just before the State Road 207 exit. Police believe a white tractor-trailer or motor home clipped the Mahese. The vehicle also hit the tire and the van's mirror.
The suspect's vehicle has a broken right headlight and possible dark gray transfer paint on the bumper.
At first, neighbor Roy Blanchard thought he was hearing his daughter arrive home. The next morning, he learned the truth. A 26-year old man had been hit
by a car and left to die...right across the street from his house.
"I heard a large, a loud thud. Like a book falling off a shelf. My dogs then got real anxious," Blanchard said.
"The bicycle was up in the bushes here and it was crushed. The front tire was crushed completely and it was quite a ways up in the bushes
where it had been thrown."
News4Jax Crime and Safety expert Gil Smith SAYS wants to remind drivers that the law has changed. Drivers could spend four years
behind bars if they leave the scene of a crash and the victim dies.
"The best thing to do, even if you just leave for a second...is to come back and call police. Let them know, yes, I was involved in the hit and
run. Yes, I left for whatever reason, and come back. When they take that case to the state attorney's office, they may consider, well he did
call it in and come back to the scene," Smith said.
Anyone with any information about the fatal crash is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 904-209-1498 or Crime Stoppers at 888-277-TIPS.