Orlando Hit-and-Run Victim was Helping Motorist Change Tire

An individual who was helping a disabled motorist change a tire on their car was killed on Monday, February 18th, after they were struck by a passing vehicle. The Florida Highway Patrol stated that the fatal hit-and-run accident happened close to 1:00 in the morning, and that it was on the eastern lanes of I-4, close to the exit from the interstate to Dirksen Drive, within the city limits of Deltona.

It is not clear what caused the initial flat tire, but we do know that the 41-year-old Orlando driver was passing the area when they saw the car suffering from the flat and pulled over in an attempt to assist the driver of this car. After exiting their vehicle, the 41-year-old approached the car with the flat tire. It is believed that both the car with the flat tire and the 41-year-old man were on the shoulder of I-4 when a third vehicle, a Chrysler 300, approached the area.

The driver of the Chrysler, a 37-year-old Lakeland resident, was traveling down an eastern lane of I-4 when they reached the same part of the road with the car suffering from the flat tire as well as the car being driven by the individual who had pulled over to help the first driver change the tire. For reasons that are not clear, the 37-year-old Lakeland resident failed to leave enough room between their car and the cars on the shoulder, and this resulted in them passing by close enough to collide with the 41-year-old person. It is not known if the driver of the car with the flat tire was also standing on the shoulder at this time, and, if so, how they were able to avoid being struck by the passing car. Instead of stopping after the collision, the driver of the Chrysler immediately fled the scene.

State troopers were quick to respond to emergency calls, and soon they were on the lookout for the Chrysler 300. This car and its driver were both found a short time later as the 37-year-old driver was attempting to remove the license plates of their car at a RaceTrac gas station. In addition to removing the plates, this driver was also seen putting the mangled bumper from their car into a patch of woods located near to the gas station.

The 37-year-old was arrested and is currently facing charges of leaving the scene of a fatal crash. It is not known if any other charges against this individual are pending.

Sources:

• Good Samaritan struck, killed changing tire along I-4 in Volusia

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.