Hit and Run

December 4, 2024

News: Suspect arrested in Belleview hit-and-run that killed pedestrian

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

BELLEVIEW, FL – A suspect is under arrest in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident that occurred in Belleview on Sunday afternoon, the Ocala StarBanner reports.

The Belleview Police Department said that Christian Patrick Parker was charged with vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident involving death.

Police said Parker was driving a 1998 Lincoln Town Car when he struck and killed 34-year-old Ariel Hartford on U.S. 441 south. An investigation determined that Parker allegedly went through a stop light and struck Hartford as she was attempting to cross the street at about 2:47 p.m. The driver kept going after the collision without stopping, according to police.

November 22, 2024

News: Driver flees after SUV crashes into Land O’Lakes home, leaving 1 man dead

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LAND O’LAKES, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal hit-and-run accident that occurred Tuesday morning in Land O’Lakes, according to Pasco News Online.

State troopers said the driver of a Chevy Tahoe veered off the road while heading south on US-41 near Bell Lake Road at about 12:30 a.m. The SUV went across a sidewalk and collided with a Honda Fit that was parked in a driveway. The impact caused the Honda to go through an interior wall and hit a 37-year-old Tampa man, who was airlifted to an area hospital with serious injuries. He was pronounced dead the following day.

The FHP is now searching for the driver of the Tahoe, described as a woman in her mid 30s. She fled the scene on foot after the crash.

November 11, 2024

News: 12-year-old injured in hit-and-run incident in Marion County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

BELLEVIEW, FL – A 12-year-old was injured after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in Marion County on Wednesday afternoon, WCJB reports.

The incident took place on Southeast 36th Avenue near 107th Place in Belleview. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the girl was walking on the shoulder of the roadway at about 4 p.m. when she was hit by a vehicle. Witnesses said the vehicle was a white 4-door pickup truck that was towing a utility trailer.

The youngster suffered injuries that were serious but not life-threatening. The FHP said the driver involved left the scene of the crash and is now being sought.

May 20, 2024

News: Port Richey man arrested in hit-and-run that injured 80-year-old scooter rider

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

PORT RICHEY, FL – A Port Richey man was arrested after police said he left the scene of a crash on Monday, according to Pasco News Online.

37-year-old Kris Paterson is charged in the incident that occurred at the intersection of Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard and Hampton Road in Clearwater. Police said Paterson was driving a 2021 Dodge Ram pickup truck when he made a right turn from a business parking lot and struck a man riding a mobility scooter.

The victim, 80-year-old Ernest Coluzzi, was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in critical condition. Investigators said Paterson did not stop to help the victim but fled the scene at a high rate of speed. He stopped on Bayview Avenue to remove the scooter that became stuck under the pickup, police said.

February 20, 2024

News: Lake Mary man struck, killed by hit-and-run driver on US-301

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SUMTER COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol is conducting a search for the driver responsible for the death of a pedestrian Saturday morning in Sumter County.

According to WKMG, the victim was struck by a vehicle while walking in the southbound inside lane of U.S. 301 near County Road 102. The pedestrian, a 63-year-old man from Lake Mary, was found dead by responding state troopers at about 8 a.m.

The driver involved fled the scene of the crash but parts of the vehicle were left behind. Based on the evidence that was found, the FHP described the vehicle they are looking for as a 1992-97 Ford Bronco or F-Series Ford pickup truck of unknown color that was traveling south on U.S. 301 and would be missing its left front headlight housing.

February 16, 2024

News: 2 Spring Hill crossing guards struck by hit-and-run driver

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SPRING HILL, FL – A driver suspected of hitting two Spring Hill crossing guards in a hit-and-run incident this week was taken into custody, according to a WFLA report.

The crossing guards were struck by a vehicle at Deltona Boulevard and Northcliffe Boulevard on Wednesday afternoon at about 4 p.m. The Florida Highway Patrol’s investigation found that the driver of a Ford Focus was struck by another vehicle and came to a stop. The driver of the Ford then continued going in the wrong direction toward the intersection and hit one of the crossing guards, an 82-year-old man, then struck the other guard, a 52-year-old man. The victims were seriously injured and rushed to an area hospital.

The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said the Focus was later located on Deltona Boulevard. The alleged driver, 54-year-old Robert Noack, had walked away from the vehicle but was apprehended and arrested, authorities said.

November 10, 2023

News: Man arrested following hit-and-run crash in Pasco County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

HOLIDAY, FL – A man is facing charges in connection with a hit-and-run crash in Pasco County on Sunday afternoon, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

New Port Richey Patch reports the accident occurred at the intersection of Ridge Road and DeCubellis Road at about 12:20 p.m. State troopers said the driver of a Ford Escape went through a red light and crashed into a Nissan Altima that was stopped for the red light. The Altima driver, a 66-year-old New Port Richey man, was not injured.

The driver of the Ford kept going north on DeCubellis Road after the crash before losing control of the vehicle, which overturned. That driver then fled the scene on foot.

November 2, 2023

News: New Port Richey woman fatally struck by hit-and-run driver on Shamrock Drive

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal hit-and-run accident that took place in Pasco County on Monday night.

A report by WFLA states that a woman was attempting to walk across Shamrock Drive at about 8 p.m. when she was struck by an eastbound vehicle near Nimmer Drive.

The victim, a 70-year-old New Port Richey resident, was pronounced dead after being taken to an area hospital.

October 31, 2023

News: Suspected drunk driver arrested in fatal Spring Hill crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SPRING HILL, FL – A suspected drunk driver has been arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash in Hernando County.

According to Pasco News Online, the suspect was identified as 38-year-old Reinier Casola Rodriguez of Tampa. The Florida Highway Patrol said he was driving a Ford F-150 northbound on Mariner Boulevard at a high rate of speed on Oct. 18 at about 7 p.m. When he failed to negotiate a curve near Quality Drive and entered the center median, a man riding in the front seat who was not wearing a seat belt fell out of the pickup truck.

The truck continued traveling to the west shoulder before hitting a utility box. The passenger, a 34-year-old man from West Palm Beach, was pronounced dead after being taken to an area hospital. Two other men riding in the pickup, ages 47 and 29, suffered minor injuries.

October 20, 2023

News: Driver sought in fatal pedestrian crash in Brooksville

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

BROOKSVILLE, FL – Authorities are searching for the driver responsible for the death of a pedestrian in Hernando County on Monday night, WTVT reports.

The incident occurred in the area of Jacqueline Road and West Mariner Boulevard at about 9:30 p.m. The Florida Highway Patrol said a man was pushing a shopping cart in the travel lane of West Mariner Boulevard when he was hit by an eastbound 2004 Ford F-150 pickup truck.

The victim, a 38-year-old man from New Port Richey, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver involved fled the scene after the incident, state troopers said, and later abandoned the pickup on Star Road.