A hit-and-run accident at the intersection of McIntosh and Fruitville Roads in Sarasota sent a pair of women to the hospital, one of whom witnesses said looked to be pregnant. The driver who left the scene was later found and is now facing criminal charges.
According to representatives from the Florida Highway Patrol, a 34-year-old Sarasota man was driving his Mercedes sedan northbound in the left lane of McIntosh Road at approximately 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 31. As he approached the intersection of McIntosh with Fruitville Road, a 56-year-old Sarasota woman was driving her Hyundai sedan east in the right lane of Fruitville Road.
The woman in the Hyundai had a green light and the man in the Mercedes had a red, but the man still attempted to make a left turn while the woman passed through the intersection. This led to a crash. Both the female driver and her 25-year-old passenger had to be taken via ambulance to Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
The man fled, but police later found him and charged him with leaving the scene of an accident with serious injuries.
What happens when a driver leaves the scene?
Per Florida law, all motorists must stay at the scene when a crash occurs. This is true even for those who were not at fault or who may have sustained only minor vehicle damage. A failure to do so can lead to criminal charges, including a felony if the accident involved injury or death.
This situation can be incredibly difficult for injury victims, who may be forced to turn to their own insurance provider to cover their medical bills, lost wages and other damages. If they do not have adequate uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, they may even have to cover these costs on their own.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident due to a negligent driver who fled the scene, contact a trusted Sarasota auto accident attorney at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh to learn more about your options.