A 37-year-old DeLand man died Wednesday night after a van hit him while he was lying in a northbound lane of Spring Garden Avenue near the Douglas Avenue intersection in Volusia County. The collision happened shortly after 10:15 p.m., and emergency crews rushed him to AdventHealth DeLand, where he was pronounced dead. The driver, a 63-year-old DeBary resident, was not injured and stayed at the scene while troopers began their investigation.
In a Florida Highway Patrol report cited by Orlando-News.com, investigators said a 2020 Ford Transit van was traveling north in the inside lane when it approached Douglas Avenue and struck the man, who was lying in the roadway for reasons that remain unknown. Paramedics took the victim to AdventHealth DeLand, where he was pronounced deceased, and troopers say the crash is still under investigation.
Troopers Work Overnight Scene
WFTV reported that state troopers remained on scene into the night and that the van’s driver stayed at the site and was unhurt. The station noted the crash was logged shortly after 10 p.m. on Wednesday and that Florida Highway Patrol investigators continue to sort out what led up to the impact.
Nighttime Pedestrian Dangers On Volusia Roads
The death adds to a troubling series of nighttime pedestrian fatalities in Volusia County this spring, including a late-night incident tied to lighting and roadway design concerns on another busy corridor, as detailed in coverage of a late-night left turn crash on International Speedway Boulevard. Transportation planners have increasingly pointed to high-speed arterials and limited sidewalks as persistent hazards for people on foot, and those themes are resurfacing as officials revisit safety priorities.
The Florida Highway Patrol has not released the victim's name, and troopers have not said whether any charges will be filed. For more on the agency's role in crash investigations and victim services, visit the Florida Highway Patrol's information page on FLHSMV.
