Hit and Run

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.

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.