A Summerfield man suspected of being involved in a hit-and-run crash allegedly hid his truck under tarps to avoid arrest.
An officer responded to a traffic crash, later found to involve 67-year-old Michael Wayne Fitzpatrick, at Southeast County Road 484 and Southeast Poinciana Road at 6 p.m., Feb. 5, according to an arrest report from the Belleview Police Department.
Upon arrival, the other driver of a white Toyota four-door was in the back of an ambulance with back pain. She advised that she had been struck by a red Dodge pickup truck going north from a gravel driveway, causing her airbags to deploy. She was ultimately taken to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, located at 1431 SW First Ave., Ocala, due to her pain and injuries, the report said.
Another driver, a witness, followed the truck to Fitzpatrick’s residence on Southeast 38th Terrace in Summerfield. There, he saw Fitzpatrick park the truck in the back before getting into a silver Kia. Law enforcement ultimately found him at the U.S. Post Office, located at 4800 SE 110th St., Belleview, the report said.
Once stopped, Fitzpatrick stated he left the crash because he needed to get home to take seizure medicine. He then left in his girlfriend’s vehicle to go to Burger King to get food, the report said.
His girlfriend recalled how he came home, got into her vehicle and left. She also allowed an officer into the backyard where they found the truck had been covered in tarps. A closer look revealed damage to the front passenger tire, the report said.
Additionally, a check of Fitzpatrick’s driving history revealed his license had been suspended for a financial responsibility on Aug. 11, 2025. He claimed to be unaware of this, the report said.
Fitzpatrick was ultimately arrested on charge of hit-and-run (leaving scene of crash involving injuries). He was transported to Marion County Jail and released after posting $5,000 bond.
He was also arrested in April 2018 on felony theft charges as an employee at Galaxy Home Solutions.