JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – There have been three fatal hit-and-runs and a pedestrian hit and killed by a car in northeast Florida in less than a week.
Family members are hoping for arrests and coming together to remember their loved ones.
On Saturday, a pedestrian walked out in front of a car on Blanding Boulevard near Tanglewood on the Westside and was hit and killed.
On Saturday morning, 37-year-old Rafhel Mahese (pictured right) was killed on Interstate 95 northbound just before State Road 207 in St. Johns County. Investigators said the van he was driving was pulled over with its hood up when a semi truck or a motor home hit the driver.
On Sunday, a bicyclist was hit and killed in St. Augustine in the area of Hilltop Road and Kings Estate Road. The victim was identified as 26-year-old Madison Jacob Meyer (pictured below) of St. Augustine.
In addition, 60-year-old Derrick "Chad" Chadwick (pictured below) was killed while crossing the street last Thursday on the Westside while crossing San Juan Avenue near Hyde Park Road.
Chadwick's co-workers at Judy's Pub on the Westside are still holding back tears, saying they'll miss him for the rest of their lives.
"That's how much I miss him. I don't want to be here anymore," said Charles Jenkins.
"I have to go right by where he took his last breath, and from that spot to this bar I was just in tears, a gush of feelings," said Donna Hall.
The Florida Highway Patrol said it has responded to 13 fatal hit-and-runs in Jacksonville this year. And in St. Johns County, there have been four.
In several of the cases, no arrests have been made.
Currently in Florida there are lesser penalties for drivers who leave the scene of an accident. There are some drivers who were convicted of killing a pedestrian or a cyclist who got months in jail, versus the years drivers could face if they are drunk at the time of an accident and stay at the scene.
"If it's a hit-and-run with serious injuries, you could be looking up to a minimum of four years in prison time," said News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith.
He said hit-and-runs are often difficult to solve because there are no witnesses. Smith said drivers whose cars break down on the side of the road need to take precautions and use reflectors.
"Now this would come out and you want to set that at least 100 feet behind the vehicle," Smith said. "Now it's good if you have more than one, then maybe go another 50 feet behind the vehicle."
Smith also has advice for people riding bikes at night.
"It's also Florida state law that you are required to have a light, a headlight on your bicycle when you're riding at night," he said. "Also, wear reflective gear, reflective clothing."
Meanwhile, those who know Chadwick will hold a memorial at 2 p.m. Sunday at Judy's Pub.
"Such tragedy," Hall said. "Like Charlie said, ain't nobody going to rest around here until they found out who did this to Chad, and if they were smart they would just go on and turn themselves in."
Anyone who knows anything about Chadwick's case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.
Anyone with information on Meyer's case is asked to call the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office at 904-209-1498 or Crime Stoppers at 888-277-TIPS.