FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Investigators say they believe Joe Czaplinksi was riding a skateboard when he fell onto the roadway and was later hit by a car early Tuesday.
The crash happened along State Road A1A and Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale -- less than a mile from McSorley’s Beach Pub, where he worked.
911 calls released Wednesday reveal the moments a passerby discovered Czaplinksi lying in the road.
“There’s a young man in the road, like he got hit or something,” a caller told dispatchers.
The caller said Czaplinksi was bleeding and quickly lost consciousness.
“He just passed out on the floor. He’s unconscious right now. But I don’t know if he hit hit, oh my God, oh my God! Holy cow! He hit his head and it’s -- there’s blood everywhere,” the caller said.
Czaplinksi, 40, was pronounced dead at the scene. He leaves behind four children.
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating.
While police have not called the case a hit-and-run, investigators say the driver did not stop to help and they want to speak with that person. No description of the vehicle has been released.
Loved ones have created a GoFundMe page to help family members travel to Florida and bring Czaplinksi back to Maryland to be cremated.
A coworker at McSorley’s Beach Pub told Local 10 News employees there are heartbroken and hope investigators are able to find answers soon.
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