A man faces charges weeks after a hit-and-run crash on I-75 sent four people to the hospital, and the Florida Highway Patrol says it was the victims’ detective work that helped lead to his arrest.
The crash happened on Nov. 8 in the northbound lanes just south of the Gibsonton Dr. exit in Hillsborough County, FHP said.
According to an arrest affidavit, the driver of a gray Infiniti tried to split between two other cars and hit them before driving away.
Timeline of the investigation
The following timeline is based on the Florida Highway Patrol’s arrest affidavit.
Nov. 9
The day after the crash, one of the drivers who was hit – referred to below as “the victim” – sent his dashcam video to FHP, but troopers could not make out the tag or what the driver looked like.
Later that day, the victim told FHP that his wife, who was also hurt in the crash, got a tip on social media saying a gray Infiniti with heavy damage was spotted outside the Zoom Zoom gas station off Gibsonton Dr., just north of the crash site.
Nov. 10
The victim received another anonymous tip, according to FHP, saying the hit-and-run driver and his car were spotted in the Fish Hawk area.
Nov. 11
The victim sent FHP one image he received from the Zoom Zoom gas station showing the Infiniti that was spotted shortly after the crash.
Nov. 12
FHP received details of a conversation between the victim and another tipster who said a damaged car matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle was parked under a cover in the driveway of a home in Riverview.
Nov. 13
More surveillance photos sent to FHP showed the suspected hit-and-run driver had his Infiniti towed from the Zoom Zoom gas station after the crash.
Troopers were also able to use the surveillance images to get a better description of the suspected driver, who was wearing a shirt indicating he worked for a pool company.
Nov. 15
FHP received surveillance video of the Infiniti at the Zoom Zoom gas station. Along with showing the suspect’s car getting towed, it showed a woman arriving at the store who was later determined to be the suspect’s girlfriend.
Nov. 22
Troopers spoke with the company that towed the Infiniti after the crash. Photos provided by the towing company matched the description of the suspect’s vehicle.
The tow truck driver also provided a detailed description of the suspect, which matched the surveillance video from the gas station.
Nov. 23
Investigators showed up at the home in Riverview where the Infiniti was parked. Next to that car was a truck belonging to the same pool company whose name was on the suspect’s shirt on surveillance video from the gas station.
The man who answered the door, identified as A E, 21, matched the description of the suspected driver.
E admitted to owning the car that was parked under the cover, but claimed he was not driving at the time of the crash.
Troopers said E appeared nervous when speaking with them and was reluctant to answer certain questions.
Nov. 28
The victim told FHP that E was still driving his work truck and had shaved his face.
Troopers determined they had enough evidence to identify E as the hit-and-run driver.
Dec. 3
Troopers arrested E on charges of leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury and reckless driving with serious bodily injury.
Jail records show E bonded out of jail on Dec. 5.
Expert Legal Representation
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Source: fox13news
