A man was arrested after striking a bicyclist and fleeing the scene of the accident early this morning, police said.
Plant City Police Department Communications Center received a 911 call regarding a traffic crash involving a blue Ford F-150 pickup truck and a bicyclist that occurred on N. Park Road near the intersection of E. Sam Allen Road.
Officials said after the crash, the driver, later identified as John Keith Jones, exited the vehicle along with a witness. According to a news release, Jones asked the witness if they were calling 911 and when the witness replied in the affirmative, Jones climbed back into his truck and fled the scene. The first witness asked a second witness who had arrived at the scene to follow Jones and by doing so he was able to obtain the truck’s license plate. He then returned to the scene, relaying the information to police.
Police ran a search of the license plate number and found Jones at an address in the 2900 block of E. Williams Road, where officers spotted the pickup truck, which showed signs of damage consistent with the crash sequence. Officers made contact with Jones and the first witness was brought to the address and positively identified Jones as the person driving the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Jones was placed under arrest and charged with Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Death or Serious Bodily Injury.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Plant City Police Department Traffic Management Unit at (813) 757-9200.