OCALA, Fla. – A 54-year-old woman died early Monday after being struck by a vehicle while crossing State Road 40. Now, her family is seeking answers about what happened.
Ocala police said they received a call around 7 a.m. reporting that a 64-year-old man traveling east on State Road 40 had hit Lisa Julian at an intersection. The crash led to road closures in Marion County. Investigators have not determined whether Julian was in a crosswalk, police said.
Family left grieving
Janet Lozito, Julian’s sister-in-law, learned about the crash when Julian’s son called her several hours later.
“He goes, grandma, he goes, I just want to let you know somebody hit her and smeared her all over the road,” Lozito said.
Lozito said Julian had been part of her life since she was 7 years old and was like the daughter she never had. She described Julian as the youngest member of the family and a mother.
“It’s a terrible thing, what happened to her. I mean, it’s very hard,” Lozito said.
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Lozito said Julian would not typically cross a road without using a crosswalk. She hopes video from the scene will help clarify exactly what happened.
“I really hope that the film shows that he was wrong and that he goes away for a very, very, very long time,” Lozito said.
A message for drivers
Lozito also urged other drivers in the community to remain focused behind the wheel.
“Make sure you put your cell phones down and pay attention to what you’re doing because before you know it, you could either get killed or kill someone or wipe out a family. And grief is just a terrible thing,” she said.
Investigation ongoing
Ocala police have not announced whether the driver will be charged. Officials said investigators are still examining whether Julian was in a crosswalk and whether charges should be filed.
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