70-Year-Old Homeless Man On Bicycle Killed In Polk County

BARTOW, FL -- A homeless man was killed early Friday morning as he was riding a bicycle along U.S. 17 in Polk County. Seventy-year-old Titus Doyle, was struck by a Chrysler 200 around 12:30 a.m. near Bomber Road, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

The agency's Carrie Horstman said Dolyle lived around the Ybor City area.

"The driver of the car, 20-year-old Austin Wallace of Wauchula, was heading southbound on U.S. 17 when he struck the bicycle, which was operating in the southbound lane, approximately 200 yards north of Bomber Road," Hostman explained.

"Wallace stopped his car and remained on scene. The bicyclist was wearing dark clothing, and the bicycle is also black-colored," she said. "The bike has lights but it is unclear if they were working."

Wallace told deputies that he did not see lights on the bicycle and was unable to avoid hitting Doyle.

"Neither excessive speed, impairment, nor distraction on the part of the driver appear to be factors," Hostman said. "The roadway in that area was closed for approximately four hours during the investigation."

She added that the incident remains under investigation.

Photo courtesy Polk County Sheriff's Office