LITHIA, Fla. — A man is dead after a collision with an alligator early Thursday morning, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
At around 12:30 a.m., investigators say 59-year-old John Hopkins was traveling eastbound on Balm-Picnic Road (CR-672), about two miles west of County Road 39.
Deputies say the front of Hopkins' car hit an 11-foot long alligator that was in the roadway before veering off the road. The car then overturned into a ditch on the north side of the road.
A motorist passing by reportedly noticed the car in the ditch and called 911.
Hopkins was pronounced dead at the scene, along with the alligator, according to the sheriff's office.
Editor's note: The photo of the alligator in this story is not the alligator that was hit.