WESLEY CHAPEL, FL - A deadly hit-and-run in Wesley Chapel has troopers searching for a driver who fled the scene after striking a pedestrian and leaving him to die along Boyette Road.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash happened around 7 p.m. Sunday. Investigators say an SUV, possibly a Toyota 4Runner, hit a 39-year-old man walking along the southbound edge of Boyette Road just north of Vienna Woods Lane. Instead of stopping, the driver sped off.

The victim’s body remained unnoticed until a passerby discovered him just before 7 a.m. Monday. Troopers say the driver who left the scene is now at the center of a criminal investigation and could face serious felony charges once identified.

FHP is urging anyone who saw anything, knows someone with damage to a similar SUV, or has information about the driver’s whereabouts to call FHP (347) immediately. Anonymous tips can also be shared through Crime Stoppers at **TIPS.

For continuing updates on this developing case, visit www.wesleychapelcommunity.com and follow the Wesley Chapel Community pages on Facebook, X, and Instagram.