Cyclist Killed In Hit-and-Run Near I-4 - U.S. 301 Exit Ramp

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL – A 45-year-old Brandon man early Wednesday morning was struck on his bicycle and killed near U.S. 301 and Interstate 4 by a Tampa driver, who fled the scene and later turned himself in, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The victim died at the scene, and his name was not released pending notification of kin, the agency said.

The collision, reported at 3:40 a.m., was near the I-4 exit ramp to U.S. 301, officials said. The vehicle, initially identified by investigators at the crash site as a 2016 silver Mercedes C300, was traveling east on the I-4 exit ramp before colliding with the cyclist and driving off, the FHP said.

The Tampa Police Department forwarded to the FHP a tip that the car could be found on the 2200 block of East 20th Avenue in Tampa. Troopers located and secured the vehicle that had front-end damage. Later in the day, the suspected driver, Christopher Cole, 44 of Tampa, surrendered at FHP headquarters and was arrested on suspicion of leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

The I-4 exit ramp was closed until 9:22 a.m. as investigators processed the scene. Troopers did not know if alcohol played a role in the incident.

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--Image via FHP