My Sun Coast reports that state troopers have located the vehicle involved in a crash that killed a 15-year-old skateboarder.
The incident happened last Wednesday morning at about 2:45 a.m.
15-year-old Thomas Jaren Croumbley was attempting to cross Upper Manatee River Road on a skateboard when he was struck by a Toyota Tacoma.
Croumbley was killed in the accident. The driver fled north on Upper Manatee River Road.
Troopers were able to locate the vehicle overnight last Thursday. The vehicle had extensive front-end damage and was registered to a home in Parrish.
The Florida Highway Patrol is currently searching for the driver of the Tacoma. Since Croumbley was attempting to cross the street in the dark, the driver may not have been at fault. However, because the driver of the Tacoma fled the scene, more serious charges may apply.
Under Florida law, it is considered a crime for a driver to damage another party’s vehicle or property and willfully leave the scene without providing certain information to the owner of the vehicle or property. Florida has enacted a law called the Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act which allowed for harsher penalties for drivers who leave the scene of an accident. For an accident with only property damage, the crime is a second-degree misdemeanor and may include a jail term of up to 60 days. As for accidents that involve injuries or fatalities, the crime is a felony. In the case of a fatality, leaving the scene of an accident can result in a minimum prison sentence of four years in state prison.
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