Almost a week after a 64-year-old man was hit and killed in Lake County, no one has been arrested, but authorities may have found the vehicle that was involved.
On Monday, Florida Highway Patrol said a man called them concerned that his 1997 Nissan Pickup truck may have been involved in a crash while he was away.
We talked to that man, who says he knew something happened when he saw all of the dirt on his truck.
“I got out of the hospital and the truck was full of mud, sand, everything, so someone drove it,” said the man, who did not want his identity revealed.
He says he let a couple, who lives in the woods, borrow his truck. He says he would never hurt the victim, William Jernigan, because they were friends.
“There was a lot of blood on the concrete but not a lick of blood on my truck, which I don’t understand,” he said.
Jernigan was hit and killed Sept. 24 on Northern Avenue and S. Haines Creek Road in Leesburg.
“He would give you the shirt off his back and if he didn’t have another one to wear, he would give you the only one he had. He was just that type of person,” said Julie Jernigan, the victim’s wife.
Troopers impounded the truck and are currently processing it to determine if it was involved in the fatal hit-and-run.
They are still asking that if anyone has any information in the crash to contact FHP or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).