Clearwater Teen Killed Walking On Citrus County Highway: Police

CITRUS COUNTY, FL — A Clearwater teen is dead after authorities said he was hit by a car while walking on U.S. Highway 19 early Friday morning.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 23-year-old man from St. Petersburg was driving a Jeep Cherokee north on US-19 when the collision happened around 5:15 a.m.

The 17-year-old pedestrian was walking on the road's west shoulder when, without warning, police said he walked across the highway and into the path of the oncoming Jeep. According to authorities, the driver tried to avoid the pedestrian but was unable to.

The teen was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died, police said.

The incident remains under investigation.