SARASOTA, Fla. — Florida Highway Patrol investigators are searching for a driver involved in a high-speed hit-and-run crash that occurred Thursday morning.
- Crash occurred near intersection of Pearl Ave, Tamiami Trail
- Investigators searching for 2003 Kia Sedona with right front damage
- Have information? Contact FHP
The crash occurred near the intersection of Pearl Avenue and Tamiami Trail.
Surveillance video taken from the scene showed a 2003 Kia Sedona van on the southbound side of Tamiami Trail turning left across northbound traffic to enter a RaceTrack gas station parking lot.
At the point, the van struck another vehicle on the northbound side with enough force to send it flipping repeatedly through the parking lot of Lantern Inn and Suites.
Following the impact, the driver of van backs up briefly, then takes off.
Witness rushes to help
A man staying at Lantern Inn and Suites, Don Fuchs, heard the crash from his room and ran to help.
"I was in the room and I just heard a big boom," Fuchs told us. "I came running out and I seen a car. It was rolling over and ended up over here by the pool. So I took off running and went down to see if anybody in there needs help."
Fuchs went on to say the driver of the vehicle, identified by FHP as 19-year-old Jackson Kelly, was not in good shape after his car flipped several times and stuck two other vehicles and a wall.
"He was bruised up pretty bad in the face," Fuchs said. "I seen a lot of blood, and we got a couple of towels and put them under his head."
Kelly was eventually removed from his damaged car and transported to a local hospital.
FHP investigators say they are currently searching for that Kia Sedona and its driver. Anyone with information in this case is asked to contact the Florida Highway Patrol at (941-751-8350.