Fatal Hit-and-Run in New Port Richey
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Wednesday, August 10, a New Port Richey man died in a hit-and-run accident on SR 54 near Little Road.
Jon Kelly Swoager, 46, was driving his pickup truck westbound on SR 54 when he was hit head on by a 2010 Nissan Sentra. According to Florida Highway Patrol, it was raining hard at about 9 a.m. when a hatchback cut off the Nissan, suddenly moving out of the center lane and into the inside lane driving eastbound. When the Nissan’s driver, James Profita, 61, attempted to avoid the hatchback, he lost control of his vehicle. The Nissan rotated sideways and crossed over the median, into the westbound lane where he hit Swoager head on.
The hatchback left the scene. Profita was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in serious condition. Swoager was taken to Community Hospital where he died later that day.