Hit and Run Awareness Month in SWFL

Reporter: Nicole Lauren Writer: Joey Pellegrino
Published: Updated:
The shattered windshield of a car in the Florida Highway Patrol’s evidence lot. Credit: WINK News

Many in Southwest Florida know the pain of losing loved ones to hit-and-run crashes. These crimes are very common in our area, which is part of why the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles designated February as Hit and Run Awareness Month.

The purpose of the month is to get the word out and make people understand the consequences of their actions. The Florida Highway Patrol says it often hears the question: “Who could do that? Who could leave someone on the side of the road and just drive off?”

The FHP says you’d be surprised at how many people can.

The patrol has an evidence lot where a lot of the cars involved in these crashes are held. They can’t be released until court proceedings are finished. Some of them were driven by victims, others by the people who committed the crimes, all are reminders to anyone of how quickly life can be taken from you.

“The prior three years, we had 100,000 traffic crashes each year,” said Lt. Greg Bueno with the Florida Highway Patrol. “This year, we had 91,000. The decrease is probably mostly due to COVID[-19], because our overall crash volume decreased as well.”

He is not satisfied with the new numbers.

“91,000 is still 91,000 too many,” Bueno said.

And while the number of hit and runs has dropped, the number of deaths has increased: FHP says it went up by around 18%. Bueno says recreating the circumstances of a hit and run for forensic purposes remains a challenge.

“Especially as time has progressed with technology, we see more and more businesses and homes that have some sort of camera, and they are crucial to these type of cases,” Bueno said. “Because we basically have to re-create the case and put that person back at the scene, put the car back at the scene, and that takes evidence to do it.”

The FHP says in many of these cases, someone saw something and someone knows something, but they won’t come forward. Bueno stresses that any tip can be sent anonymously to them or Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, and it could help solve the case.

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