A 20-year-old woman from the tiny east Orange County village of Christmas has been taken into custody after Florida troopers say she fled a pre-dawn hit-and-run that killed a man on State Road 520, just south of Colonial Drive. The pedestrian, a 56-year-old man, died at the scene. According to troopers, the motorist fled the scene of the incident on foot.
According to WFTV, Florida Highway Patrol troopers arrested 20-year-old Julia Ann Blackwell and placed her into Orange County Jail on a charge of leaving the scene of a fatal crash. According to records, Blackwell is a Christmas resident.
The Florida Highway Patrol informed the station that the investigation is still ongoing, so some aspects are being kept under wraps for the moment.
According to WESH, the crash occurred around 5:10 a.m. Saturday in a forested area northeast of State Road 520 and south of State Road 50, commonly known as Colonial Drive.
According to investigators, a 2020 GMC Sierra pickup struck the pedestrian before driving off the road into the woods and becoming stuck in a mud pit. According to officers, the driver then fled from the wrecked truck. The Sierra was eventually towed from the scene so that detectives could examine it for evidence.
The victim’s identify has not been revealed pending notification of family, according to authorities.
According to ClickOrlando, the Florida Highway Patrol is currently investigating what caused the fatal crash and is requesting anyone who witnessed anything to come forward.
Troopers are particularly interested in information from the State Road 520 and Colonial Drive area during that early morning period. Anyone with information is asked to contact FHP at *347 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Investigators say they are acquiring physical evidence and following up on leads as they arrive.
Under Florida law, leaving the site of a fatal crash is a significant criminal. According to Florida Statutes, a hit-and-run involving a death is a first-degree crime punishable by a mandatory minimum four-year jail sentence and at least a three-year driver’s license revocation under state code section 316.027. In addition to prison term, courts have the authority to impose reparations and other punishments.
According to WFTV, investigators are still looking into the collision, and the victim’s name has yet to be disclosed. Troopers are still looking for witnesses, as well as any available surveillance or dashcam footage from the area, as they attempt to establish their case.
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