FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - A runner has succumbed to his injuries after, police said, he was struck by an SUV while participating in a half marathon in Fort Lauderdale, Sunday morning.
Fort Lauderdale Police responded to the scene on Las Olas Boulevard. They said the driver of a black BMW SUV hit the runner after heading into the closed-off course of the Michelob Ultra Fort Lauderdale 13.1, along the 1700 block, just east of the Floridian Restaurant.
Witnesses said the impact sent the runner — who was later identified as 79-year-old Arthur Knochenhauer — flying into the air. “We had our water station, and a police officer there, he was looking down the road at the time, and he goes, ‘Someone just got hit by a car,'” said event volunteer Jake Turner, “and I looked up, and I could see his body in the air.”
Race organizers said their staff and police officers were at the scene within minutes of the collision.
Paramedics transported Knochenhauer to Broward Health Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. “They did all they could,” said Turner.
The driver of the SUV remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators. Detectives have not specified whether the motorist will face charges.
7News cameras captured one of the victim’s sneakers lying next to an evidence marker on the pavement, as well as his black baseball cap with the Toyota logo wedged into the SUV’s broken front windshield.
“That is tragic,” said runner Kelsey Gregware.
Police shut down Las Olas Boulevard eastbound while they investigated. “There’s a lot of fast traffic moving in the other direction because they only closed down one lane,” said runner Diana Potter.
The roadway was later reopened.
“It’s really unfortunate,” said Potter.
A spokesperson for the half marathon released a statement that read in part, “We can confirm an incident that occurred at the Fort Lauderdale 13.1 earlier this morning. Both staff and police were on the scene within a matter of minutes.”
Knochenhauer was an avid runner, according to family members, and ran in three marathons before. Family said he ran to show his grandchildren they could do anything they set their minds to,
The crash remains under investigation.
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