Investigators from the Florida Highway Patrol are seeking a pair of hit-and-run drivers who hit a pedestrian in Bradenton that had already been hit by another vehicle.
The accident occurred at approximately 6:24 p.m. on Saturday, December 12. According to FHP troopers, the 52-year-old man was attempting to cross U.S. 301 north of 30th Avenue East when he was struck by an SUV heading south. He then was ran over by two other vehicles. When responders arrived, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
While the driver of the SUV stopped, the drivers of the two other vehicles did not. The third vehicle was potentially a light-colored SUV, but that is all the information investigators released about the two hit-and-run vehicles. Anyone with information on the suspects was encouraged to call the FHP or Crimestoppers to provide details.
Hit-and-runs are serious offenses
A hit-and-run isn’t just a morally abhorrent act—it’s also a crime. And when it results in the death of a victim, it escalates to the level of a felony, carrying significant fines and potential prison time for the offender.
The family of the victim would be able to file a wrongful death claim on the victim’s behalf against the vehicles that fled the scene, should they be found. Otherwise, in the event where there is no other driver to be found, the claim would have to be processed through a person’s own insurance.
For more information about the steps you should take if you’ve been injured in a hit-and-run accident, contact an experienced Sarasota, FL auto accident lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez & Walsh.