Teen Pedestrian in Hit-and-Run Crash Dies, Driver Faces Upgraded Charge
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Tampa, FL (2/10/2020) – A Tampa driver now faces a higher charge after leaving the scene of an accident which killed a 14-year-old girl earlier this month. The hit-and-run occurred around 7:15 p.m. on January 31 near the intersection of 15th Street and 122nd Avenue.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office states that Nakeeba Ryan, 24, was driving her Chevrolet Equinox south on 15th Street and struck Asucena Gomez-Hernandez, 14, who was crossing the street with friends. According to investigators and witnesses, Ryan got out of her SUV, walked over the girl, and assessed the damage of her vehicle. Ryan then moved her Chevy to a nearby parking lot and fled the scene.
When emergency services arrived, they took Gomez-Hernandez to Tampa General Hospital. She was pronounced dead four days later.
Ryan now faces a first degree felony charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving a death, which is punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
At the time of the accident, she worked in a customer call center for the Department of Children and Families, which offers an economic self-sufficiency program to Tampa families in need. She was immediately fired after being arrested.
Experienced Pedestrian Accident Attorneys in Florida
Our hearts go out to all those affected by this tragedy. Pedestrian accidents like this one occur far too often in Florida. Police must investigate fatal pedestrian accidents to understand the cause of the crash. The responsible party can then be identified and, if warranted, held accountable.
Abrahamson & Uiterwyk commits to advocating for individuals and families affected by severe and even fatal accidents, including pedestrian accidents. Here on our accident news blog, we report on stories that involve personal injuries because we help our clients recover losses and damages from accidents like this one. If a personal injury accident has affected you or a loved one, we invite you to contact our firm anytime to discuss your case with a qualified personal injury lawyers in Tampa near you.
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Source: Tampa Bay Times