A skateboarder lost his life early Tuesday morning after falling off his skateboard and being struck by a car on A1A in Fort Lauderdale.
The crash forced police to close the intersection of Sunrise Boulevard and A1A for several hours as they investigated.
Officers arrived just before 4 a.m. and pronounced the 40-year-old man dead at the scene. His skateboard remained on the pavement, and his body was covered as investigators worked.
A person who said they worked with the man at a nearby pub described him as full of life and a joy to be around. “He had just moved to Florida, and we hired him right away. He was living his best life, and losing him is devastating for all of us. Everyone loved working with him. He lit up the room,” the co-worker said.
Witnesses described hearing the crash and being shaken by it. Vera Shallo said she initially thought it was a car accident before realizing someone had been hit. “I heard a thud and looked around. Then I realized a person had been struck. It was really upsetting,” she said.
Police and traffic investigators spent the morning trying to piece together exactly what happened. They said it is not yet clear whether the driver who hit him will face charges, and they are still attempting to locate the vehicle involved.
Drone footage showed the heavy police presence as officers redirected traffic and worked to document the scene. Just after 6:30 a.m., a vehicle from the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office arrived to remove the victim.
Shallo said the incident left her shaken even though she didn’t see the crash happen directly. “It’s heartbreaking. Someone should have stopped and called for help. It’s careless and thoughtless. I just hope whoever was involved comes forward,” she said.
Fort Lauderdale police confirmed the man was a local resident and urged anyone who witnessed the crash or has information about the driver to contact Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.