JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — 59-year-old Darryl Lindsey was hit by a car and left on the side of the road for nearly 12 hours. Now, three weeks later, his family is now asking for answers in his death.
“He loved his kids dearly. We were his first priority, always his first priority,” April Lindsey, his daughter, said. “We talked to him every day. Now we can’t.”
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He leaves behind a wife, six children and two grandchildren.
Action News Jax reporter Meghan Moriarty spoke with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and found that the driver did call 911, but the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) did not respond to the scene. The driver never stopped.
“The driver hit him. Did not stop. Did call 911. Did not leave a lot of identifying information to connect the call,” Crystal Tyler said. She has been a close friend of the family for decades. “As a result, Mr. Lindsey laid lifeless on the side of the road.”
The incident happened on Aug. 26, 2021, around 9:30 p.m. Moriarty confirmed with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD) and FHP that neither were dispatched to the scene that night.
The next morning, around 8:30 a.m., a truck driver called 911, saying he found a body on Martin Luther King Parkway at Wilson Street. It was Darryl Lindsey.
Lindsey’s family said he was walking home from church, something he did regularly.
Action News Jax first told you when FHP was actively searching for the person who did this. A spokesperson with FHP said the man turned in himself and his car to investigators. We are not naming the driver because he is not charged with a crime.
Moriarty looked up his driving record and found several previous citations for driving with a suspended license.
Action News Jax law and safety expert Dale Carson said according to Florida law, it’s a drivers duty to report information and “render aid” if they injure anyone while driving. FHP said the investigation is still ongoing.
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Moriarty asked JSO why no one was dispatched to the scene on the night of the incident.
A spokesperson for JSO said, in part, “We have been made aware of this incident. It is currently being administratively reviewed.” The email response went on to say, “I would not be able to comment any further at this time. As soon as the administrative review has been completed, any findings would be public record at that time.”
“Only things we have are voicemails that we saved,” Sha’Bara Lindsey said. “I play it when I want to hear his voice.”
If you can learn how to help the family and get more information on services for Lindsey by visiting this page: http://Cartersfuneralhome.com.