<\/p>\n
Fort Lauderdale police said it appears as though 40-year-old Joseph Czaplinski fell off the skateboard and into the road before being hit by a vehicle.<\/p>\n
CBS News Miami<\/p>\n
A skateboarder who recently moved to South Florida was killed in Fort Lauderdale early Tuesday morning after police said he fell into the road and was hit by a vehicle.<\/p>\n
Police told CBS News Miami that they received 911 calls just after 3:30 a.m. reporting that someone was lying on the ground in the area of Sunrise Boulevard and Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard (A1A).<\/p>\n
When officers arrived, they said they found a man\u2019s body in the roadway near a skateboard.<\/p>\n
Fort Lauderdale police said that, according to the preliminary investigation, it appears as though the victim, who was identified as 40-year-old Joseph Czaplinski, fell off the skateboard into the middle of the road, and he was hit by a vehicle moments later.<\/p>\n
Police said they are still looking for the vehicle that was involved, and it\u2019s still unknown if this incident will be classified as a hit-and-run.<\/p>\n
A friend of Czaplinski told CBS News Miami that she worked with him and he just moved to the area from Maryland.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe leaves behind a 17-year-old child now,\u201d she said. \u201cWhoever left him just needs to come forward and do the right thing because there are a lot of people who loved him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Julie Olszewski, operator of Con Murphy\u2019s and McSorley\u2019s Beach Pub, says Czaplinski worked as a bartender at the pub.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery customer loved him, he was new to the team, but he made a big impact right away, and we\u2019re just really heartbroken over this,\u201d Olszewski said.<\/p>\n
A witness told CBS News Miami that the intersection is dangerous, and he has seen other accidents in the area. He said he hopes the driver comes forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have no words,\u201d Alex Johnson said. \u201cThey\u2019re going to get you. They\u2019ll find you. Turn yourself in.\u201d<\/p>\n