Ariel Hartford Obituary, Death; – The Belleview Police Department is actively seeking the driver involved in a hit-and-run incident that resulted in the death of a pedestrian within the city on Sunday.
Location of the incident: The crash occurred in the 10400 block of U.S. 441 South. Time of the incident: James Lucas, a spokesperson for Marion County Fire Rescue, reported that his agency was notified at 2:48 p.m. and arrived at the scene by 3:00 p.m. The victim was declared deceased at 3:02 p.m., according to Lucas.
Identity of the victim: Authorities have identified the deceased as Ariel Hartford, a 34-year-old individual experiencing homelessness. Circumstances of the incident: Officials stated that Hartford was in the crosswalk attempting to cross U.S. 441 when a vehicle allegedly ran a red light, struck her, and failed to stop.
This incident represents the second traffic-related fatality during the Thanksgiving weekend. The first occurred on Friday in a crash on Interstate 75, resulting in one death and injuries to five others, including two children. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating that incident.
Since 2020, Belleview officers have looked into eight traffic fatalities. Records indicate that the last time the city experienced three traffic deaths in a single year was in 2017. According to police officials, Hartford’s death marks the first hit-and-run fatality in the city in recent memory.
