Suspect in Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash was Boyfriend of Victim

ALACHUA, FL- Wctv.tv writes that a fatal hit-and-run took place over the weekend in Alachua. The Florida Highway Patrol has now arrested the suspect, a 44-year-old man from Lake City. Police were able to identify and locate the man about eight hours after the deadly crash.*

Police say that the suspect was the victim’s boyfriend. Reports identify the victim as a 48-year-old woman from Ocala. 

Hit-and-run crashes are increasing in Florida. In many cases, the victims of these wrecks are pedestrians. Drivers who strike pedestrians often do not sustain much damage to their vehicles. As a result, these motorists are capable of fleeing the scene of a crash because their cars are still functional. In a crash between two cars, that might not be the case. 

One of the most disturbing factors in hit-and-run crashes is that the driver who flees the scene leaves the victim helpless. If there are no other witnesses, then the victim may have no way of getting medical attention. In these cases, people who may have survived the crash if they had gotten medical attention can die helplessly on the roadway. 

The drivers who commit hit-and-runs are statistically more likely to have been drinking alcohol prior to the crash. These motorists may feel more inclined to attempt to escape because they fear that they will face charges if apprehended. 

While the penalties for hit-and-run crashes are steep, many drivers are never identified. Witnesses are important when it comes to investigating these incidents. Anyone who witnesses a hit-and-run should be sure to contact law the police to provide any information they have about the driver and the vehicle involved. 

Accident News is a safety and education initiative from Montlick & Associates, designed to help people better understand and thereby avoid common accident causes.  To learn more about our injury prevention programs, including iridesafe.com - click here. We hope you are never in an accident, but if you or family member are injured, call Montlick & Associates 24/7 for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or use our live chat at Montlick.com.

Sources:https://www.wctv.tv/content/news/UPDATE-Suspect-in-fatal-hit-and-run-in-Alachua-County-arrested-identified-as-victims-boyfriend-568125071.html and https://aaafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/18-0058_Hit-and-Run-Brief_FINALv2.pdf and https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2019/09/03/streetsblog-investigation-hit-and-run-drivers-injure-thousands-why-are-so-few-ever-charged/