Daughter of Clearwater hit-and-run victim: 'Please turn yourself in'

The daughter of a 53-year-old woman who was critically injured in a hit-and-run is pleading for the driver to come forward.

Tammie Whiting was taken to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg after she was hit by a vehicle Thursday night. Whiting, a mother of four and grandmother of six, was in critical condition with injuries that include major head trauma.

Her daughter, Quantel, is now making a plea to the driver.

"She doesn't deserve what happened to her," she said. "Please come forward.  Please turn yourself in."

According to police, Whiting was crossing Myrtle Avenue at Turner Street in the crosswalk. She had waited for the green light before she was hit by a southbound car that had run the red light.

The driver of the car then sped off, officials say.

The vehicle is thought to be a silver four-door sedan that is similar to a Ford Taurus. The car is likely to have damage to its front end.

Kristina Graham, who owns Hippie Holistics, said she heard the commotion outside of her shop.

"It was the yelling that had me going, 'What is going on out there?' " she said. "And I actually peeked out the window from my treatment room and the session, because I could see somebody laying in the road."

Those who frequent the neighborhood describe busy streets with drivers who don't pay attention.

"I can't understand how anyone can just hit someone and leave them for dead," pedestrian Jenna Norwell said. "But you hear it all the time on the news.  And every time I hear it, I think that's horrible."

Last month, two tourists were killed while crossing Memorial Causeway. Video footage of a silver Mercedes SUV was released, and an arrest was made two weeks later.

But police say this case may prove more difficult, as witness descriptions of the suspect car are more vague. In addition, surveillance video was not readily available. There are no red-light cameras at the intersection, and many of the nearby business don't have surveillance cameras of their own.

Anyone with information should call Clearwater Police at 727-562-4242 or email tips@myclearwater.com. They can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS or use the TIP411 system by texting their tip to 847411 and using the keyword CWPD.