BREVARD COUNTY — A 20-year-old Palm Bay woman died late Sunday on Interstate 95 after she swerved to avoid a vehicle that had struck an alligator in the road, lost control of her pickup and was later hit by a vehicle that left the scene, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The crash happened just before midnight near mile marker 214.
According to FHP, a 58-year-old man from Canada was driving south in a Mercedes-Benz E-350 when he saw an alligator in the roadway and was unable to avoid it. The front of his vehicle struck the alligator. The man was not injured and remained at the scene.
A Toyota Tacoma driven by the Palm Bay woman was traveling behind the Mercedes. FHP said she swerved to avoid hitting that vehicle, lost control, and the pickup overturned. She was ejected and came to rest in the center lane of the interstate.
An unidentified vehicle then struck her, and that driver fled, troopers said. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
FHP is asking anyone with information about the crash or the vehicle that left the scene to call *FHP (*347) or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.
The woman’s name has not been released.