Hit and Run

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.

October 16, 2023

News: Woman charged with leaving scene after hitting pedestrian in Gainesville

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

GAINESVILLE, FL – Gainesville police announced an arrest in the case of a pedestrian who was struck by a car near the University of Florida.

According to the Gainesville Sun, 73-year-old Betty Jean Alexander-Bacon of Lake Butler faces a felony charge for a hit-and-run.

Authorities said Alexander-Bacon was driving at around midnight on Thursday when she struck the pedestrian who was crossing the street in the 1300 block of West University Avenue. The victim was taken to UF Health Shands Hospital for treatment. No details were immediately released on the person’s condition.

October 4, 2023

News: Citrus County man killed by hit-and-run driver on US 441

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

GAINESVILLE, FL – State troopers said a pedestrian died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in Alachua County Sunday morning.

A report by Main Street Daily News states the victim was a 26-year-old man from Floral City in Citrus County. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the man was walking along US Highway 441 at about 3:30 a.m. when he was hit by a vehicle and killed.

The driver involved was reported to have fled the scene heading south toward Micanopy and Marion County. The FHP described the vehicle being sought as a 2015-2020 dark gray Ford Mustang. On Monday afternoon, investigators said they had located the vehicle in Marion County and identified a person of interest.

August 31, 2023

Hit-and-run incident leaves 2 dead, Ocala police officer injured

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – Two people died and a police officer was injured following a hit-and-run incident in Ocala Saturday night, according to WESH.

Police said a driver was speeding through the intersection of South Pine Avenue and Southwest 17th Street shortly before 10:30 p.m. and struck a pedestrian and a parked patrol car. The pedestrian, whose name was not released, was pronounced dead after being transported to an area hospital.

The driver left the scene of the crash with police officers in pursuit. One officer was parked in a median near Maricamp Road and 30th Avenue and was preparing to place stop sticks on the ground.

July 27, 2023

News: Man charged with leaving scene of crash on State Road 44

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LAKE DEATON, FL – A man accused of fleeing the scene of a crash in Sumter County earlier this year has been apprehended, the Villages-News reports.

The Florida Highway Patrol identified the suspect as 31-year-old Marcus J. Sims of Leesburg. The accident happened Jan. 28 on State Road 44 near Lake Deaton.

According to the FHP, Sims was driving a Maserati and racing with an Audi when the vehicles were involved in a crash that also included another vehicle. A 27-year-old woman from Summerfield was injured in the incident.

June 30, 2023

News: Man sentenced for leaving scene of crash in the Villages

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

HAWKINS, FL – A man was sentenced in connection with a hit-and-run crash in the Villages last month, reports The Villages-News.

36-year-old Mark Regan of Pennsylvania was arrested on a charge of leaving the scene of an accident after the incident that occurred May 1 in the area of State Road 44 and Powell Road.

Police said Regan was driving a Mazda 3 when he struck the back of a trailer being towed by a truck at about 3 p.m.

June 15, 2023

News: FHP searching for driver who struck, killed 68-year-old woman

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

TRENTON, FL – Authorities are trying to track down the driver who struck and killed a a pedestrian in Trenton on Sunday night.

A report by WCJB states that the incident took place on Southeast 53rd Court at 8:45 p.m. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 68-year-old woman was walking on the roadway when she was struck by a northbound pickup truck. The victim, whose name was not released, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the pickup fled the scene going north on Southeast 53rd Court. The truck was abandoned and found nearby, and a search for the driver is ongoing.

June 5, 2023

News: Arrest made in Pasco County hit-and-run that killed pedestrian

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

HUDSON, FL – A man is facing charges in connection with a crash that killed a pedestrian in Pasco County last month, state troopers said.

A report by WFLA states that the suspect is identified as 30-year-old Mason Ryan Stevenson of Webster. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Stevenson was driving on Bolton Avenue May 26 when his vehicle fatally struck a 31-year-old Hudson woman who walked into his path. Stevenson allegedly fled the scene of the incident.

His vehicle was later found abandoned near the scene. Acting on a tip received by the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, the FHP located Stevenson in Hudson and he was arrested last Wednesday at about 5:30 p.m.

March 24, 2023

News: Moped rider struck by hit-and-run driver on US 441

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – A moped rider was injured after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in Marion County early Wednesday morning, state troopers said.

A report by WGFL stated that the incident took place on U.S. 441 near Southeast 73rd Street at about midnight. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a person riding an orange moped was struck at that location by a black Cadillac sedan. The moped rider was seriously injured and taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center.

The FHP said the driver of the Cadillac left the scene of the crash and is now being sought. Anyone with further information on the incident or the driver’s whereabouts was asked to contact the FHP.