A Umatilla woman was arrested for a hit-and-run after disregarding another driver whose side mirror she struck with her own while cutting into his lane.
A trooper responded to a hit-and-run crash with injuries at Estes Road and State Road 44 in Eustis at 10 p.m. Friday, according to an arrest report from the Florida Highway Patrol. The collision involved two witnesses and 61-year-old MMB, who left before law enforcement got there.
The driver advised that he was traveling north on Estes Road when a red Chevrolet Silverado cut into his lane, driving into oncoming traffic. He tried to avoid the truck but was unable to, which caused the driver’s side mirrors of both vehicles to collide. The driver and his passenger sustained minor injuries since the driver’s side window was down at the time. Shattered glass from the mirrors caused lacerations to their arms and faces, the report said.
After the collision, the truck did not stop and fled the scene. The driver then made a U-turn and followed the vehicle until it stopped at a Shell gas station, located at 6550 N U.S. Hwy. 441, Mount Dora. He and the passenger approached the driver of the truck, later identified as B, and told her that she needed to wait because they were on the phone with law enforcement, the report said.
B did not stay at the scene and left again, now in the passenger seat of the vehicle. Her granddaughter, who she had picked up at the gas station, was driving instead, the report said.
The driver and passenger gave a description of B to the trooper, and they found a match to her driver’s license. A record check of the license plate also matched the truck described by the witnesses. After finishing the on-scene investigation, the trooper went to her registered address, the report said.
Upon arrival, the trooper found the truck in the driveway with damage to the left side mirror. He tried to make contact with B at the residence but was unsuccessful, so he returned on Sunday night. He informed her that he was there about a collision involving her vehicle in the driveway, the report said.
B stated that “some guys” hit her car “the other night.” He told her the incident was reported as a hit-and-run crash and read her rights, which she waived. He then asked what happened during the incident, the report said.
B advised that she was driving on Estes Road to pick up her granddaughter and did not know she had been involved in a collision. She did not feel anything indicative of a crash while driving. When she got to the Shell, she was approached by the two witnesses who told her what happened and that they were on the phone with the police. She told them she had not hit them and left the scene with her granddaughter, the report said.
She later admitted that when she got home, she noticed the damage to her mirror. She realized she had been involved in a collision. But she claimed she believed the other driver hit her vehicle and therefore did not contact law enforcement, the report said.
B was subsequently arrested on charge of hit-and-run with injuries. She was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $5,000 bond.
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Being injured in a hit-and-run accident is both traumatic and frustrating. When the at-fault driver flees the scene, it can feel like justice is out of reach. At Ovadia Law Group, our experienced hit and run lawyers help victims across Florida pursue compensation even when the driver is unidentified. We work with investigators, review surveillance footage, and explore all legal options, including uninsured motorist claims. Our goal is to ensure you receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress. You shouldn’t have to suffer because someone else chose to run. Let our legal team fight for your rights and hold the responsible parties accountable. Call Ovadia Law Group at 1-800-674-9396 for a free consultation with a trusted Florida personal injury attorney who will stand by your side and help you recover after a hit-and-run accident.
Source: leesburg-news
