Person killed in Orange County hit-and-run; FHP looking for suspect driver and vehicle

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - Update (Dec. 13): FHP issued an updated news release on the investigation on Saturday, Dec. 13.

According to the release, on Tuesday, Dec. 9, a 27-year-old woman contacted law enforcement and said she may have been involved in a crash on Silver Star Road and mentioned that she may have hit something on the road.

She had a 25-year-old woman with her at the time of the incident. FHP also talked to that woman, the report said.  Both women are from Orlando.

FHP said the vehicle, a 2024 Chevy Malibu, has damaged consistent with the crash and was taken into evidence. FHP did not name the two people and did not mention if anyone had been arrested or could be facing potential charges. FHP said the investigation remained active. 

FHP also identified the man hit and killed as a 33-year-old from Leesburg, Florida.

Original story:

The Florida Highway Patrol is searching for a driver who is suspected of hitting two people on Silver Star Road late Monday night in Orange County.

FHP said it is looking for a gray or blue Chevy Malibu with likely damage to its lower front end and damage to the driver-side mirror. 

What we know:

FHP said back-to-back crashes happened on Monday night – around 11:12 p.m. – on Silver Star Road, near Le Havre Boulevard.

A 2003 Honda Accord, driven by a 36-year-old man, was traveling east on Silver Star Road when a 33-year-old man, from Leesburg, walked into the road and into the direct path of the car, FHP said.

After the Honda hit the man, the driver got out of his car and began helping the pedestrian, FHP said. 

While the Honda driver was helping the pedestrian, another driver on Silver Star Road failed to stop and hit both men, FHP said. Witnesses told FHP troopers that the driver got out of their vehicle, quickly checked for potential damage, got back in their vehicle, and drove off. 

FHP later described the suspect vehicle as a blue or gray Chevy Malibu with damage to its lower front. FHP initially said the driver-side mirror was missing, but later clarified that the mirror may be damaged. 

The person that was hit initially was taken to the hospital where he died, FHP said. His name has not been released. 

What you can do:

Anyone with information that can help with the investigation of the crash is asked to call the Florida Highway Patrol at *347 or Crimeline at 800-423-8477. 

Editor's note: Article has been updated with new details from FHP on the investigation, missing driver, and the age of the man killed.