TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — One person has died and another person suffered minor injuries after the scooter they were on was struck by a hit-and-run driver in Ybor City Friday morning.
Police said the suspect, Jenalone Sisavat, 23, was arrested hours after the incident.
According to police, the driver was heading north on Nebraska Avenue near Palm Avenue when the scooter went into his path. The driver did not slow down in time and slammed into the scooter, leaving both passengers with injuries. The driver did not stop to provide assistance and fled the scene, according to police.
Witnesses described the aftermath in an interview with 8 On Your Side.
“We thought they were dead, honestly. We saw them flying, the girl in front of the car just lying, what I thought was lifeless. So immediately, I said pull over we have to call 911,” one witness told News Channel 8.
“She [the female passenger] was like, ‘what’s going on, what’s going on’, I was like, ‘you’re going to be okay you’re going to be okay’. Then she asked me, ‘how is he?’, and I look up and he was all the way down over there. I went over here and he couldn’t verbalize anything. He was just screaming and I was like ‘you’re going to be okay’, and he was just shaking,” another witness recalled.
Police said the male passenger suffered serious injuries and was taken to an area hospital, where he later died. The female passenger suffered minor injuries.
“She was like, ‘grab my hand’ and was like ‘don’t let me die’.”
Both said they were shocked the driver left the scene.
“They were human beings. They weren’t just animals or objects. They’re people with families and futures and goals in life.”
Police said they were able to locate the vehicle and arrested Sisavat for leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury.
He is being held at a Hillsborough County jail in lieu of a $7,500 bond. More charges are pending.
This story is developing and will be updated.
