PLANT CITY, Fla. — Florida Highway Patrol troopers have located the vehicle believed to have been involved in a deadly hit-and-run that killed a 22-year-old man in Plant City. The driver of the truck has yet to be identified.
On Monday, May 14, FHP says that they located the suspect vehicle with the help of a Crime Stoppers tip.
Plant City: FHP Troopers have located the suspect vehicle from a fatal hit & run crash on I-4 near US-98 on May 3 2018. Help investigators put the driver behind the wheel - call FHP or Crime Stoppers! pic.twitter.com/unG1Z8xZgr
— Sgt. Steve Gaskins (@SteveG717) May 15, 2018
On Thursday, May 3, a passing driver saw a body laying on the grass shoulder just west of U.S. 98. Troopers say that McKenzie Messick was walking along I-4 when he had been struck by a passing vehicle. They believe he was killed within the previous 8 to 24 hours. Following the collision, the suspect driver drove off.
Related:
Plant City father killed in fatal hit-and-run, left on shoulder of I-4 in Polk County
Family offering reward for info on driverwho killed Plant City father inhit-and-run
FHP says that the white 2003 Chevrolet pickup involved was recovered at a residence located at 6339 Red Hawk Lane in Plant City. Troopers say that the vehicle is registered to 25-year-old Mason Dilts, who has been named as a person of interest in the case.
Messick's family is now offering a $5,000 reward of their own money to try and find who hit and killed him.
The investigation remains active and anyone with information regarding the suspect driver is asked to contact the Florida Highway Patrol by calling (813) 558-1800.
