Tampa Officials Searching for Howard Frankland Bridge Hit-and-Run Suspect

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on July 24, 2021

Authorities with the Florida Highway Patrol are currently working to determine the details behind a somewhat bizarre hit-and-run collision involving a sedan and a state-issued vehicle on the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa yesterday afternoon.

According to troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies in the area, it was approximately 2:30 p.m. on July 23, 2021, when a Florida Road Ranger service truck was driving in the eastern direction down I-275 and approaching the vicinity of mile marker 37 in order to assist a stranded motorist who had called for help from the side of the road. The FDOT worker pulled over onto the shoulder of the interstate and right before they were about to step out of the vehicle, a silver 2014 Mazda 6 sedan seemingly appeared from nowhere and sideswiped the state truck.

The initial impact from the accident caused the Mazda to careen out of control down the interstate’s grassy embankment until it crashed into a concrete barrier. After the Mazda finally came to a stop, a female driver with blonde hair quickly exited the vehicle and jumped into a gray Nissan Versa which proceeded to speed away down the interstate at a breakneck pace.

It has since been determined by the Florida Highway Patrol that the female driver was not the actual owner of the vehicle, although it is unclear if this information is related to the hit-and-accident. The driver of the FDOT truck was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries he received during the harrowing incident.

At this time, officials with the Florida Highway Patrol are requesting the public’s assistance with the identification of the blonde female driver of the wrecked silver 2014 Mazda 6 or information regarding the male driver of the gray Nissan Versa that showed up at the scene and scooped up the female. If you have any information, contact FHP by dialing *FHP or 813-558-1800 or call Crime Stoppers at 800-873-TIPS.

If you have been seriously injured in a head-on collision, rear-end car crash, wrong-way accident, or side-impact collision, please contact Tampa auto accident attorney James O. Cunningham today at 877-FL-INJURY to schedule a free 30-minute case evaluation.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.