PORT ST. LUCIE, FL — Port St. Lucie police have identified a 63-year-old city resident who was found unconscious and severely injured in a roadway early Friday, and detectives now say the case is being investigated as a hit-and-run.
Officers said the man was struck around 12:56 a.m. near Northwest University Boulevard and Northwest California Boulevard. Passing motorists came upon him in the road with serious head injuries and heavy bleeding, according to police.
He was taken to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital, where authorities said he remains in critical condition. Police first asked for help naming the victim because he was found without identification.
Crash occurred before dawn near Northwest University Boulevard and Northwest California Boulevard
Investigators said the collision happened in the overnight hours at a busy intersection on the city’s west side. The timing and location matter because the victim was discovered by people driving through the area, not by first responders already at the scene.
Police have said the man was on foot in an area where he was known to walk during overnight hours. That detail has become part of the investigation, though detectives have not said why he was in the roadway when he was struck.
At the time he was found, the injuries were severe enough that the scene quickly became both a medical emergency and a criminal investigation. The case has centered on finding out what vehicle hit him and why the driver left.
Surveillance video helped detectives identify the victim and confirm hit-and-run
Authorities said nearby business surveillance video captured the incident, giving investigators key evidence in the case. Police said that footage confirmed the crash was a hit-and-run, strengthening the case that a driver left the scene after striking the pedestrian.
Detectives also used the video, along with follow-up investigation, to identify the man after first being unable to confirm who he was. Police initially turned to the public because he had no identification with him when he was found.
Officials have not publicly identified the vehicle involved or said whether they have narrowed down a suspect. Investigators are still collecting and reviewing additional video as they try to piece together the moments before and after the crash.
Hospital care continues as the victim remains in critical condition
After being found in the roadway, the man was taken to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital for treatment. Police said he remains in critical condition, underscoring how serious the injuries were when motorists discovered him.
The reported head trauma and bleeding suggest he suffered major blunt-force injuries in the crash. Officers have not released further details about his medical condition beyond the critical-status update.
Because the man survived the initial collision and was identified later, the case has drawn attention to both the medical response and the work detectives still have ahead. His current condition remains a central fact in the investigation.
Police are asking drivers and witnesses to share dashcam or surveillance footage
Detectives are asking anyone who was driving near the intersection around the time of the crash, saw what happened, or has dashcam or surveillance footage to come forward. Investigators say that kind of video could help identify the car and the person behind the wheel.
Port St. Lucie police can be reached at 772-871-5000. Authorities have not said whether the suspect vehicle may have damage consistent with the crash, but they are clearly focusing on any footage from the surrounding area.
In cases like this, even short clips can help establish a vehicle’s direction of travel, its make or color, and the timeline before and after impact. Police say those details could be crucial as the investigation continues.
Overnight pedestrian crashes remain a major concern in busy road corridors
The crash adds to the broader risks pedestrians face when walking near major roadways in low-light hours. In this case, the victim was found in the road before sunrise, when visibility is reduced and traffic may still be moving quickly through the area.
Police have not said whether street lighting, speed, or other roadway factors played a role. They also have not released any information about the driver’s identity, possible charges, or whether alcohol or impairment is suspected.
For now, the investigation remains focused on the basics: who struck the man, what vehicle was involved, and why the driver did not stop. Those questions are still unanswered as detectives continue gathering evidence.
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