TAMPA, Fla. -- The Courtney Campbell Causeway is a stretch of road in Tampa known for beautiful sunny bay views but is also notorious for its darker side.
In recent years, the 9.87-mile stretch of road has been the scene of severe injury crashes and fatalities.
"It happened so quick. It was so violent," David Spinazzola said. Spinazzola said he is thankful to be alive after he was hit Monday night around 7 p.m. on the CCC just past the light on Rocky Point.
"Had me up on two wheels, it was a good hit," Spinazzola said.
Spinazzola was traveling in the eastbound lanes when he said he saw two cars appear out of nowhere.
"One tried to swerve around the car in the middle lane, and that is the one who lost control. I'm not sure if they hit the median. I just saw headlights for a split second before I got slammed in the side," Spinazzola said.
He said a total of four cars were involved.
"Two innocent bystanders and two racers," Spinazzola said.
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As Spinazzola got out to check the damage to his car and exchange information with the other driver, he says he saw something he never expected. The driver of the car that hit him got out and ripped off the license plate, then got into the car he was racing before hitting Spinazzola.
"Everybody jumped in and took off on the access road to the side. They looked late teens early 20s," Spinazzola said. "My thing, right now, I posted some stuff on social media. This person doesn't need to be on the road if they are that irresponsible. They are going to take a family's life, and I'd hate to see that. Tampa Bay is right there I was on two wheels in hindsight. I could've ended up in the water or flipping who knows."
Tampa police are investigating the hit-and-run crash. Investigators tell us they took the car into evidence and are working to track down the driver.
"You don't run if you did nothing wrong," Spinazzola said. "So many pedestrians out here, it's a beautiful trail you just gotta slow it down someone's gonna get killed."
