HUDSON, Fla. — Troopers are searching for the driver involved in a deadly hit-and-run accident.
The Florida Highway Patrol received the call around Wednesday around 11:30 p.m. in regards to a vehicle strickling a female pedestrian in the northbound lanes of U.S. 19 just south of State Route 52 in Hudson.
According to Troppers, the driver sped away north after the crash, but witnesses lost sight of the vehicle when it turned east onto S.R. 52.
The pedestrian, 46-year-old Jamie Dawn Patterson, died at the accident scene.
Troopers say the suspect vehicle has a custom black "sparkle" paint job with heavy window tint throughout and possible silver pin-striping along the side of it. They also say it most likely has front end damage. The make and model of the vehicle is unknown.
The Florida Department of Transportation is asking everyone to keep safety in mind.
They’ve seen 16 people die on Tampa Bay roads just this week.
That includes three pedestrians, 5 on motorcycles, and 1 bike rider.
Several of these cases involved distracted drivers, including one who was texting.
“You have Driving Miss Daisy on the same road as Mario Andretti," John Kovaleski, who has been promoting businesses in Pasco County for about 10 years, said. "You can turnaround wherever you want. And the only place they don’t sell beer is Dunkin Donuts.”
“It’s tragic. It’s sad. I like to be in touch with what’s going on around me, but the more I read, the more depressed unfortunately I get,” he said.
Anyone with information regarding the hit-and-run is asked to contact the FHP by calling 813-558-1800 or Crime Stoppers at 800-873-TIPS.
