• 14
  • November
    2011

While not under arrest, a male driver suspected of being under the influence of alcohol fled the Bayshore Medical Center in St. Petersburg following a 2010 fatal car accident. The family of the 51-year-old woman killed in the crash was vigilantly tracking down the driver to seek justice for the mom who was traveling to her birthday party when she was killed.

The 2010 Florida car accident occurred along University Parkway when the man ran a red light. He was airlifted to the hospital from the scene of the accident, but the driver fled the hospital within 24 hours of arrival. The driver was not under arrest at the time of the crash because his injuries were nearly fatal and law enforcement authorities thought they had time to investigate the cause of the fatal collision. The delay, however, allowed the driver time to escape.

The Florida Highway Patrol searched for the fugitive driver but was unsuccessful in locating him. Their efforts were complicated by factors such as his status as an illegal immigrant, no employment history and a fake name. However, a sheriff's detective from Sarasota took over the cause to find the fugitive after the family begged the expert to investigate the whereabouts of the man. The detective, aggressive in his search tactics, had success after months of a cold trail. The driver was finally apprehended April 21, 2011, after an extensive hunt.

Sadly, fleeing drivers are relatively common as they attempt to avoid criminal and civil liability after a crash. Between hit-and-run drivers and runaway drivers, many car accident victims and families are forced to track down the driver or work with law enforcement officers to find the drunk or at-fault driver. When a family works with a car accident lawyer, the attorney may also hire a private investigator who has the skills and resources necessary to find the responsible driver.

Source: Herald Tribune, "Fugitive hunter tracks down driver in fatal DUI crash," Todd Ruger, 11/4/2011