Hernando County Accident Attorney :: Hit and Run Collision Kills Brooksville Mother

January 18, 2013

Brooksville, FL – A 27-year-old young mother of two was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver at Cortez Boulevard and Horse Lake Road at 5:11 a.m. Saturday as she was walking to her estranged husband’s home.

She was discovered lying in the median and was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Thursday night, police arrested a 41-year-old Weeki Wachee man and charged him with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.

Detectives believe the man was heavily drinking on the night of the fatal accident, Jan. 12, and may have been involved in another crash later that morning.

At some point on Thursday, the man hit a utility pole along Knuckey Road in northwestern Hernando County, got out of his 2010 Chevy pickup truck and fled. The Florida Highway Patrol investigated that crash and found that the truck’s description matched the vehicle they may be looking for in the death of the 27-year-old Brooksville woman.

The man was transported to the Hernando County Detention Center on Thursday evening in lieu of $80,000 bail.

Under Florida law, drivers are required to stop their vehicles if they are involved in an accident with another person. It is required to remain at the scene of the accident until they have provided the victim or police with their information and if needed, rendered aid. When a person flees the scene of an accident causing injury or death, they can face felony criminal charges.

After an auto accident, the responsible driver should stay at the scene and check on anyone involved, especially pedestrians who have been struck by a car. Pedestrians are much more likely to suffer serious injuries or die after being involved in a collision. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the most common place for pedestrian car accidents to occur is at unmarked crossing areas. Sadly, 4,280 pedestrians across the U.S. were killed in pedestrian car accidents in 2010. In that same year, pedestrian deaths made up 13 percent of all traffic fatalities, and accounted for 3 percent of the total number of people injured in traffic accidents.

If you or someone you care for has been injured or killed in a Brooksville pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to receive monetary compensation for your losses. A Hernando County Auto Accident Attorney at Whittel & Melton can help you understand your legal rights and options. For a complimentary review of your claim, contact us online or call 352-666-2121.