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Driver arrested following hit-skip death in Hubbard

HUBBARD TOWNSHIP — An Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper on patrol just after 7:30 a.m. Saturday discovered the body of a 57-year-old man who was struck by a vehicle and killed on U.S. Route 62 in Hubbard Township.

The Warren post of the patrol is investigating the incident near milepost 6 and classified the crash a hit-skip in a news release. The crash is believed to have occurred just before 3 a.m.

The pedestrian, Vernon L. Hawkins, of Sharon, Pa., was walking eastbound near the left shoulder, according to the patrol. His body was found in the median.

When troopers were investigating just after 10 a.m., they noticed the vehicle they believed was involved in the crash attempting to drive around the crash scene on state Route 7, the news release states. Troopers pulled over the man.

The driver of the suspected vehicle was identified as David J. Krok, 28, of Brookfield. When the crash occurred, he was driving east on U.S. 62 in the left lane in a 2008 Ford Explorer, according to the patrol.

“David Krok struck Vernon Hawkins and left the scene,” the news release states.

Lane Life Trans and the Trumbull County Coroner’s Office assisted at the crash scene.

The patrol’s office of criminal investigations and crash reconstruction specialists are assisting with the investigation.

It was the second hit-skip fatality in as many days in Trumbull County. The motorcyclist who was the victim of a hit-skip accident on Thursday afternoon died of his injuries, according to a spokeswoman for Trumbull County Coroner Dr. Lawrence D’Amico.

Police continue to look for the driver who left the scene of the accident near the Trumbull Regional Medical Center. Trumbull County 911 reports state a motorcyclist was given CPR on the scene as a white Jeep Cherokee was seen speeding north on Bonnie Brae Avenue NE toward Elm Road.

Coroner investigator Kathy Meszaros said the victim, whose identity is pending notification of relatives, died later Thursday. An autopsy was performed on the motorcyclist Friday, Meszaros said.

Police are searching for the driver of the Jeep Cherokee, reports state. A full report of the accident has not been released by police, a spokeswoman for the Warren police records department said Friday.

news@vindy.com

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