RSS18-Year-Old Killed in Hit-and-Run Crash on S.R. 408 Near Orlando
A manhunt is currently underway in Orange County as authorities with the Florida Highway Patrol continue their search for two individuals believed to have been involved in a deadly hit-and-run accident that claimed the life of an 18-year-old man and severely injured another at the intersection of State Road 408 and Chickasaw Trail near Orlando this past Tuesday evening.
According to early collision reports from the Florida Highway Patrol, it was approximately 8:40 p.m. when a blue 2018 Chevy Cruz carrying two individuals was travelling along the eastbound lanes of S.R. 408 heading towards the Chickasaw Trail intersection. As this vehicle approached the traffic light, a 2021 Yamaha motorized scooter/motorcycle with an 18-year-old male and a 16-year-old female also approached the intersection from the southern direction on Chickasaw Trail. For reasons that are currently unclear, the driver of the Chevy proceeded to run the intersection’s red light and crashed head-on into the teenage motorists. Almost immediately after the collision occurred, both people inside the Chevy exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot to a nearby apartment complex.
“Witnesses say as it came down the ramp at a very high rate of speed, it ran the red light and struck a scooter as it was traveling southbound on Chickasaw with the greenlight,” according to a statement from Lt. Kim Montes with the Florida Highway Patrol. The force of impact from the accident caused both individuals to be violently thrown from their scooter onto the roadway, and even though Orange County emergency rescue teams arrived at the crash site within a matter of minutes, the scooter’s 18-year-old driver was unable to survive the severe nature of his injuries and he passed away at the scene. The 16-year-old female passenger was transported to a local hospital, but no further updates regarding her condition have been released to the public at this time.
Local Orange County authorities have diligently searched the aforementioned apartment complex, and even dispatched a K-9 unit to the area, but have so far been unsuccessful in apprehending the two alleged hit-and-run suspects from the Chevy Cruz. If you have any information about this deadly incident, please contact the Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.
Sources:
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.
Mr. Cunningham is an excellent and knowledgeable attorney.