Man Dies In Head-On While Second Driver Flees Scene

Troy John Schultz, 41, of Weeki Wachee, died early Saturday in a head-on collision on U.S. 19 at Grizzly Bear Lane in Hernando County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Schultz and another driver, Mitchell T. Vliet, 19, of Spring Hill, were traveling along U.S. 19 just after 3 a.m. where there is a 30-foot grass median separating the north and southbound lanes, according to an FHP report. Schultz was driving a 1998 Kia SUV and Vliet was driving a 1994 Ford two-door.

As the vehicles approached a paved center median break at the intersection of Grizzly Bear Lane, one of the vehicles crossed over and traveled into the path of the other vehicle, causing a head-on collision which left both vehicles obstructing the southbound lands of U.S. 19 for four hours, the report states.

Schultz died at the scene and Vliet fled the scene on foot despite receiving serious injuries, as evidenced by a large amount of blood loss at the scene, the report states. There may also have been a passenger in Vliet's vehicle who also fled the scene.

Vliet was later located and transferred to Oak Hill Regional Hospital for medical treatment.

The crash remains under investigation.