Victim dies from hit-and-run injuries on SR-A1A

Public Affairs Sergeant Catherine Payne informed Historic City News that a 53-year-old Anastasia Island resident who was struck by a vehicle and left to die in the middle of SR-A1A just before midnight yesterday, has succumbed to his injuries and died at Flagler Hospital in St Augustine this morning.

Law enforcement officers with the St Johns County Sheriff’s Office and St. Augustine Beach Police Department initially responded to the scene with emergency medical personnel from St. Johns County Fire Rescue after they received a report of an unconscious man in the roadway.

“We have a witness who observed a white Toyota pick-up truck strike the victim and continue traveling south on SR-A1A,” Payne told local reporters. “The victim of this hit-and-run is Robert Dale Louk, whose last known address was 280 Floridian Avenue, Apt B.”

An immediate search was undertaken for a vehicle that matched the description provided by the witness. A few miles from the collision, a pickup truck was discovered. The man believed to have been driving the vehicle at the time of the crash, refused to cooperate.

Officers detained the man while search warrants were obtained for the vehicle and to compel a blood sample. After serving the search warrant, the evidence was sent to the lab for analysis. Charges are pending the outcome of the investigation, which is continuing.

Anyone with additional information regarding this homicide is asked to contact Detective Jose Jimenez at 904-209-1458 or call Crime Stoppers toll-free at 888-277-8477. You may remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward up to $1,000.