Tampa Police Search for Person Behind Fatal Early May Hit-and-Run

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on May 21, 2020

A fatal hit-and-run accident in the Tampa area is currently under investigation by officers with the Tampa Police Department. Reports issued at the time of this writing provide limited, although crucial, information regarding the incident. It is anticipated that as the investigation into the accident continues additional updates will be offered. Any updates of an unusual or exceptional manner will appear on this blog as well as in traditional news outlets.

We know so far that the accident took place around 5:00 on the morning of Tuesday, May 12th. Before officers with the Tampa Police Department began to receive reports of the accident, an unidentified individual was walking along West Hillsborough Avenue when they reached the intersection of this road and Dale Mabry Highway. We do not currently know if the individual was seen by witnesses walking along the side of the road or if this information comes from a reconstruction of the events leading to the crash.

After reaching the above-mentioned intersection, the pedestrian began to cross the road. It is not clear if the road features any sort of pedestrian protection features such as a crosswalk, flashing lights, or even a traffic signal hanging over the roadway. It was as the individual was crossing the street that a car came down either Hillsborough Avenue or Dale Mabry Highway and struck the pedestrian. The force of the impact was severe and caused the pedestrian to suffer from numerous injuries.

We do not have information regarding who called the police, but when officers, paramedics, and EMTs reached the scene there was nothing that they could do for the pedestrian. This person was declared dead at the crash site.

Most notably missing from the area was the car that inflicted the fatal wounds on the pedestrian. Police believe that after colliding with the person on foot, the driver of the car decided to speed away from the area down the eastern lanes of Hillsborough Avenue.

Evidence gathered from the scene of the crash indicated that the vehicle involved in the incident was a Ford E-series van manufactured between 1999 and 2007. Any person who might have information leading to the capture of the individual responsible for the pedestrian’s death is strongly encouraged to reach out to either the Tampa Police or Crimestoppers of Tampa Bay.

The incident remains very much under investigation.

Sources:

• Fatal pedestrian crash on Hillsborough Avenue was hit and run, Tampa police say

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.