A 20-year-old Florida woman, Cassi Taylor, died in a hit-and-run crash on Interstate 95 in Brevard County early Monday morning, according to the Indian River County Sheriff's Office.
The crash occurred shortly before midnight when another vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz, struck an alligator on the highway. Taylor was driving behind the Mercedes in a Toyota Tacoma and swerved to avoid the damaged car, resulting in her losing control and overturning. She was ejected from her vehicle and landed on the road, where she was then struck by an unidentified vehicle that fled the scene.
The sheriff's office confirmed that Taylor was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. The driver of the Mercedes, a 58-year-old man from Canada, was unharmed and remained at the scene.
Authorities are investigating the incident and are actively searching for the driver of the vehicle that left the scene. The Florida Highway Patrol is asking anyone with information to come forward.