A 17-year-old Inverness boy riding an ATV was killed when he was hit from behind by a car on a county road about an hour after sunset Monday, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
Troopers said Alexander Terraciano was not wearing a helmet and did not have working lights on his ATV while riding west on Citrus County Road 581 around 8:39 p.m.
Just west of Woodcrest Avenue, a Honda Civic driven by Barbara Jean Cross, 38, of Hernando and traveling in the same direction caught and ran into the back of the ATV, troopers said.
Terraciano died at the scene. Cross was not injured, the FHP said.
Terraciano’s father could not hold back his tears on the loss of his oldest son.
"Just lost is the only way to explain it without Alex anymore,” said Anthony Terraciano.
Christopher McLeskey said he's living in a nightmare. His little cousin is gone too soon and he misses him.
"A great deal. He was a good kid. He's 17, he was a baby,” McLeskey said.
"I lost a great person and it's a shame. A lot of people will miss him,” Terraciano.
No charges have been filed.
Alex's family said they're having a hard time coming up with money to pay for a funeral. Alex was the oldest of four kids and was a sophomore in high school.