Hit And Run Driver Kills Bicyclist In Escambia County

January 1, 2016

[Updated 2:30 p.m.] A bicyclist was killed by a hit and run driver early Friday morning, becoming Escambia County’s first traffic fatality of the new year.

About 12:05 a.m., an unknown vehicle eastbound on Mobile Highway at Green Street struck the bicyclist, later identified as 52-year old Eddie Ray Hunt, and did not stop, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The bicyclist was traveling against the flow of traffic when he was hit.

The vehicle is believed to be white with damage to the front or right side.  Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call the Florida Highway Patrol at (850) 484-5000.

Comments

10 Responses to “Hit And Run Driver Kills Bicyclist In Escambia County”

  1. David Huie Green on January 4th, 2016 8:37 pm

    REGARDING:
    “So I hope y’all are not so quick to judge cyclists about their driving habits, in your hypocrisy, a good number of y’all are just as bad. And by the way leaving the scene of an accident signifies guilt.”

    It is not wrong to point out bad bicycling practices exist, especially when we are dealing with a person who is reported to have been going the wrong way after midnight, new year’s day.

    We would be hypocrites only if we pretended to be perfect drivers. We didn’t.

    While leaving the scene is a crime and the driver may have been committing other crimes he or she or they didn’t want diacovered, not staying does not establish guilt for hitting someone going the wrong way in the dark.

    David for reason

  2. john on January 4th, 2016 6:35 am

    The way folks drive around here, I wouldn’t encourage anyone to ride a bike! I used to think it was safer to drive around here then say: Atlanta or Chicago , but now I have rethought that previous perception. I have been hit three times in past six years and one of my vehicles totaled (none of were my fault). So I hope y’all are not so quick to judge cyclists about their driving habits, in your hypocrisy, a good number of y’all are just as bad. And by the way leaving the scene of an accident signifies guilt.

  3. incognito on January 3rd, 2016 7:41 pm

    i was the person who stumbled upon eddie ray. it was a horrible sight, i flagged down the first car i saqw because id did not have a cell phone on me. i knew eddie was gone the second i layed eyes on him. the person i flagged down stopped and called 911. i was their with the paramedics, the fire department and the police. to the person who did this and left this man on the side of the road like an animal, this man gave his time every day to wash dishes at his church asking nothing in return except the feeling he got from helping others and having a purpose in his life. he might have been homeless but i can tell you that this man was more humble and had more dignity and respect tan the coward that left eddie to die with out stopping to see if he was ok. you know who you are and you will have this on your mind until the day you are found because you will be. RIP EDDIE you were worth more to the community than any dollar amount could put a price on.

  4. David Huie Green on January 2nd, 2016 5:47 pm

    REGARDING:
    “The driver bears all of the responsibility for his or her actions of hitting the cyclist ”

    Not necessarily.
    Riding your bicycle into cars does not make it the driver’s fault that he couldn’t dodge you in time.

    Most bicyclists disregard or simply don’t know the rules of the road and are thus unworthy of respect. (Not that we want to hit them or hurt them, just that such actions don’t engender respect.)

    The “hit and run” aspect is another matter. He or she may have been too drunk or high to notice. Or not.

    David for safer drives

  5. look Twice on January 2nd, 2016 9:03 am

    Look twice , Save your own life. Cars & trucks are everywhere. Know the rules of the road even if your on a bicycle. Bicyclist seem to ride on the wrong side of the road against traffic all the time. When a car pulls out onto the road & a cyclist coming down the sidewalk the wrong way gets hit by the car when it crosses the cars front its the cyclist fault. Happens all the time. There are more on Bicycles today. I don’t feel its because they are trying to save on gas.

  6. Puddin on January 2nd, 2016 7:53 am

    Prayers for the family of the decessed.

    A couple questions. (Not laying blame on anyone but the jerk who drove off.)

    It says the bike was riding against the flow of traffic. I though bikes, scooters, skateboards, etc, ride with traffic,mwhile walkers walked against, or facing, traffic?

    The damage was to the front or RIGHT side of the car? If it was on the right side, then the bike would have been going with the flow and not against it.

    I totally garee with Jane. I drive in the early morning hours, often where there are no street lights. Almost every morning there is someone walking/riding around in the dark. Very hard tomsee, even in light colored clothing. Be careful out there. Even if you dont know whom, someone loves you, and needs you in thier life.

  7. Daniel on January 2nd, 2016 7:41 am

    The driver bears all of the responsibility for his or her actions of hitting the cyclist and leaving the scene of the accident like a coward. But the cyclist is responsible for riding his bike on the wrong side of the road and riding against traffic. There was no mention of proper cycling equipment. Reflective gear, head and tail lights, and a helmet are required and go a long way toward preventing an accident and lessening the severity of an accident if it happens. The cycling community in Pensacola is not respected and a little care taken by both riders and drivers would go a long way.

  8. Jane on January 1st, 2016 6:36 pm

    I see people walking and riding bikes in the dark or in heavy clouded/poor visablity days wearing dark clothing. You can hardly see them. PLEASE people, wear some white, put some reflectors on your bike, wear yellow or put reflector tape on your dark jacket. I don’t know anyone who wants to hit someone, but you really need to seen! I am sorry this person was hit and I am angry the driver ran away.

  9. mick on January 1st, 2016 3:54 pm

    A great way to start off. Someone without any morals or decency takes a life and their first thought 5 minutes into the New Year is take the coward’s way out and flee the scene… To the perpetrator, hope you read this and when it weighs so heavy on your conscience you will decide to do the right thing.

  10. Kathy on January 1st, 2016 10:46 am

    This is terrible. I have noticed more pedestrians on the roadways and you really can’t see them sometimes until you are right on them.
    I hope they find the person responsible.