Hit and Run Awareness Kicks Off in central Florida
Florida Highway Patrol met with families who have lost a loved one in a hit and run accident on Monday. The meeting was designed to bring closure to the loved ones, and also to bring awareness to the hundreds of thousands of drivers that pass through Central Florida.
FHP reported that there have been over 70,000 hit and run accidents in the state of Florida during 2012. Out of that total number, over 17,000 people were injured, and in 168 of the cases reported last year, the driver of the hit and run vehicle killed someone before they left the scene of the accident.
The loved ones of these victims want the public to know that their family members were real people, with real lives. One example that is all too real is the case of Aaron. He was riding a moped along Goldenrod Rd. when a light-colored sedan hit and killed him, and then left. FHP refers to these fatal crimes as the driver using their vehicle as a weapon with fatal results.
Troopers claim that it is difficult to collect evidence on these types of crimes, unless there were eye-witnesses, but they can use the smallest bits of evidence to bring conviction. In the case with Aaron, there is still nothing for FHP to go on as they need more evidence like many of their other unclosed cases.
The Highway Patrol admits that it can’t solve all of the cases, even with physical evidence, but with some evidence they can move forward to investigate. The penalty for abandoning the scene of any accident ranges from 5 to 30 years in prison. Calling Crimeline @ 800-423-TIPS is the best way to combat these crimes, and if you have been involved in a hit and run, contact a car accident attorney.