A 23-year-old man had just been involved in a crash when he attempted to flee the scene, ultimately running a red light and colliding with another vehicle in a second accident that killed a teenager.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, troopers were called out to the scene of the accident after two vehicles were reported to have collided at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 9, near the intersection of 26th Avenue East and 27th Street East in Bradenton. The man was driving an Acura Integra that had already been involved in an accident shortly before, and he was reportedly driving in a reckless manner as he attempted to flee the scene.
When the driver ran a red light, his vehicle collided with a Chevy Tahoe driven by an 18-year-old Bradenton woman. The driver was killed in the crash, and the passenger, another 18-year-old Bradenton woman, sustained serious injuries. They were both ejected from the vehicle due to the force of the blow.
The man’s vehicle continued traveling forward after this second collision, hitting a power box and barbed-wire fence. He sustained critical injuries in the accident, as did a 13-year-old passenger. Another passenger, a 17-year-old Palmetto girl, sustained minor injuries.
Drivers must remain at the scene of a crash
Any time a person is involved in an auto accident, he or she must stay at the site until police and medical responders arrive to sort out what happened and create an official report. Failure to remain at the scene is a misdemeanor charge, and it rises to the level of a felony when the accident leads to injury or death. A person found guilty of felony hit and run faces significant fines and prison time, in addition to civil action on the part of victims or their families.
For more information on how to proceed if you’ve been injured in a crash caused by a hit-and-run driver, consult a skilled Manatee County accident lawyer with Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh.