Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is hoping a surveillance video recently released to the public will help bring them one step closer to solving the investigation regarding the fatal hit-and-run in Plant City on March 1.
A mother and her 5-year-old child were walking along Rogers Road after dark when they were struck by a vehicle that fled the scene. HCSO deputies were called to the scene at 9:23 p.m. and immediately began performing CPR until Hillsborough County Fire Rescue arrived on the scene. The child was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital and was pronounced dead.
The mother was also injured. The driver of the vehicle that hit the mother and daughter never stopped or attempted to render aid, so HCSO has been on the hunt for weeks attempting to piece the final clues together to close the investigation.
“We want nothing more than to bring closure and justice to the family of the innocent child whose life was taken by a careless driver, but in order to do that, we need the help of our Plant City residents,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “We’re asking anyone who may have been in the area of Rogers Road in Plant City the night of the accident to reach out to detectives with any information you may have that could solve this case. No tip is too small or insignificant.”
In the days that followed, deputies began looking for the first vehicle of interest, an unknown make, light-colored sedan. They asked the public for help locating the vehicle as it was in the area at the time of the hit-and-run. At approximately 1:30 a.m. March 2, the car was located by patrol deputies within a mile of the crime scene. The driver of said vehicle told the officers he had nothing to do with the crash.
The vehicle was processed by HCSO crime scene investigators and, after analysis, the department ultimately ruled it out as a vehicle of interest.
HCSO then identified two additional vehicles of interest for the case at approximately 3 p.m. March 4. Both were seen traveling northbound on Rogers Road during the time of the crash. A red metallic paint chip was found at the scene.
The first vehicle is an unknown make, model or color four-door sedan. The second vehicle is an unknown make, model or color small SUV.
Now, more than two weeks after the initial incident, HCSO is releasing new surveillance footage in hopes of identifying another vehicle of interest in the case. The surveillance cameras that were mounted at nearby businesses recorded a car traveling northbound on Rogers Road near the intersection of U.S. 92 in Plant City at approximately 9 p.m. March 1.
The footage still doesn’t identify the color, make or model of the vehicle, but HCSO reminds the public of the metallic red paint chip it found at the scene of the crash.
Deputies have also ruled out another vehicle of interest, so now it’s two down, one to go. They hope the public will be able to shed some insight on this last vehicle. Video of the vehicle can be found at the HCSO Sheriff YouTube account or at the link: youtube.com/watch?v=RxrkDp2ZWak&feature=youtu.be.
Anyone who recognizes the vehicle or has information related to this incident is urged to call HCSO at 813-247-8200 or Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477) to be eligible for a cash reward.