A 32-year-old Lakeland bicyclist was killed in a hit-and-run crash early Saturday, and authorities are asking for the public's help identifying the driver.
Eric Wayne Pope was riding his bike north on the east edge of Reynolds Road near Lisa Lane around 1:30 a.m. when he was struck from behind by an unknown vehicle, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.
Pope was either carried on the vehicle or thrown about 100 feet before he landed in a ditch. He was pronounced dead at the scene, deputies said.
“Accidents can happen but to just leave him on the side of the road and keep going? That’s cold,” said Pope's brother in law, Joe Messer.
Witnesses in the area reported hearing a crash and described the vehicle as a light-colored, possibly silver or white, Dodge pickup truck.
Sheriff Grady Judd is warning the driver to either turn themselves in, or his deputies are going to track them down.
Pope’s family said the hit-and-run did more damage than the driver may know.
“This is what y’all left on the side of the road right here," said Messer. "Y’all didn’t leave that man on the side of the road. Y’all left her on the side of the road with no dad.”
Pope’s family said his 4-year-old daughter was his world.
Pope was operating his bike properly and had lights and was wearing a protective vest, deputies said.
“Eric was wearing a reflective vest, he had lights on his bicycle, there was no reason for him to be hit,” Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Sheriff and Pope’s family are asking for the driver to come forward to hopefully bring this family some closure.
“Turn yourself in before we track you down," Judd said. "You need to explain why you ran over and killed a man who was following all of the rules.”
They tell us that truck will most likely have extensive front end damage.
Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 863-298-6200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-8477 or through www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com.