Loading Video…

This browser does not support the Video element.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (FOX 35 ORLANDO) - A man is behind bars after hitting and killing a pedestrian in Orlando and leaving the scene.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the victim was crossing Oakridge Road just before midnight on Wednesday when he was struck by a pickup truck. He died of his injuries.

Witnesses say the driver of the truck drove away, but they were able to take down his license tag number.

Troopers arrested 46-year-old Walnert Charles at his home. He is charged with leaving the scene of a fatal crash. His truck is now being held as evidence by the Florida Highway Patrol.

Troopers are crediting two good Samaritans for leading them to their suspect early Thursday morning.

"We found the vehicle. The vehicle was still warm and went upstairs to an apartment complex, located the driver and arrested him," said FHP spokesperson Lt. Kim Montes.

Troopers say Charles was driving eastbound on West Oak Ridge Road, when he struck a pedestrian who was crossing near the Luzon Driver intersection. One of those witnesses was driving home, when he noticed a man lying in the middle of the lane, as a green truck was stopped a couple hundred yards up the road.

"[The man] wasn't moving, wasn't breathing. I blocked the road, so no one else would hit the individual that was in the road," said the witness.

Another bystander stopped and asked what was going on, then drove up to where the truck was parked.

"The male driver got out of the vehicle, made contact with a witness and said that he was going home to call 911," Lt. Montes said.

The suspect took off before investigators could get to the scene, but not before one of the witnesses got a picture of his license plate. They immediately gave that to investigators when they arrived.
Because of that, within 30 minutes, FHP says they had Charles in custody.

"Had we not found the vehicle and him later, we never may have been able to prove that part of our case," Lt. Montes said.

The witness says what he and the other good Samaritan did was no big deal.

"I don't need the credit for it. It's just everyone has to do the right thing," he said.

Lt. Montes says more bystanders need to stop to help others and law enforcement.

"This is our 19th fatal hit and run in the Central Florida area this year. Last year in all of Central Florida, we had 21. So, this is continuing to be an epidemic. We need people to stay at the scene," Montes said.

Charles is now being held at the Orange County Jail on a $10,000 bond, with more charges pending. Troopers are still working to identify the victim.