ORLANDO, Fla. – A pedestrian was struck by a car and seriously injured Thursday night in Orange County, but a witness says the victim saved his girlfriend by pushing her out of the way of the oncoming vehicle.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Jeffrey Smith, 31, of Orlando, and another person were walking on the sidewalk along State Road 436 near Aloma Avenue when a Dodge four-door left the road and traveled toward them.
Smith was struck and injured, troopers said. He was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center with serious injuries, the FHP said.
A witness, however, said Smith saved his girlfriend.
"I got out of my car over here and walked up and went over here and walked up and there's this young man with a very serious head injury and a broken leg," witness Bill Gethoefer said. "And talking to his girlfriend, she told me that he had pushed her out of the way and was hit by the car himself."
The woman was not injured.
After the Dodge hit Smith, troopers said the vehicle traveled back onto the road, across the northbound lanes and struck a sign and fire hydrant before overturning.
The driver, identified by troopers as Luke Hiatt, 34, of Orlando, suffered serious injuries and was taken to Winter Park Hospital, officials said.
Charges are pending against Hiatt, the FHP said.