Deputy hits 41-year-old lying in parking lot in Fanning Springs

FANNING SPRINGS, Fla. (WCJB) - A pedestrian is dead following a crash involving a Gilchrist County Sheriff’s deputy early Monday morning.

Gilchrist County Sheriff’s officials and Florida Highway Patrol troopers say a deputy was patrolling near the Capital City Bank in Fanning Springs just after 1 a.m.

Officials say the pedestrian, a 41-year-old from Bronson, was lying in a dark part of the parking lot.

The deputy, driving through the parking lot, did not see the man and hit him. Residents tell TV20, homeless people often sleep near the bank at night.

“It’s hard to believe,” said Jeff Johnson, a resident. “It’s really hard to believe that a man was lying there, passed out, and a cop runs him over. I don’t understand that. How did he do that?”

Officials have yet to clarify exactly where in the parking lot the pedestrian was hit. Residents note that there are lights in the area.

“Things like that don’t happen here too often, so I’m sure he is going to have to be held accountable,” said Gary Vertrees, a resident.

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Gilchrist County Fire Rescue was dispatched to the scene and pronounced the pedestrian dead at the scene.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers are investigating the cause of the crash.

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