Local

Mom of I-4 hit-and-run victim pleads for driver to come forward

The mother of a construction worker who was hit by a car on Interstate 4 early Tuesday morning discussed the hit-and-run with Eyewitness News.

Christopher Cattaneo's mother, Sharon Cattaneo, is pleading for the person responsible to come forward.

"It's the right thing to do. You'd want someone to call it in if it was your family," Sharon Cattaneo said.

The incident happened around 2 a.m. in the eastbound lanes near mile marker 94, troopers said. The construction worker, 23-year-old Christopher Cattaneo, was transported to the hospital with serious injuries.

"The pain he's suffering is really unnecessary," Sharon Cattaneo said. "His ankle, hip, foot. He's not able to walk on it right now. He's not able to use his left arm at all at this time."

Sharon Cattaneo said she's relieved that her son will survive his injuries, but he faces extensive rehabilitation.

The red Chevy Silverado truck that fled the scene was being driven by a man, FHP said. The vehicle might be missing side mirrors and reflectors as a result of the crash.

"You know he's out there trying to make the roads safer for us, and the person that hits him runs off and leaves him there. You know, the irony, it's there," Sharon Cattaneo said.

Troopers said they're looking into if dense fog in the area could have contributed to the crash.

"They don't come onto the job with the intention of spending the night in the hospital," said Steve Olson with the Florida Department of Transportation.

Officials said Christopher was doing striping work in a closed lane when he was struck.

"People got to realize when they are driving along here that this is somebody's mom or dad, this is somebody's best friend," Olson said.

Troopers said they are searching for the truck and driver. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the Florida Highway Patrol.

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