The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is searching for the driver of a vehicle who hit a child and then fled the scene.
On Thursday, April 1, 2021, at approximately 7:00 a.m., the child's mother called 911 to report her 9-year-old son had been hit by an unknown vehicle while waiting for the school bus on the 2400 block of West Lake Drive in Wimauma. The child's mother transported her son to an area hospital to be treated for head injuries. The child's condition is unknown at this time.
Deputies recovered surveillance video that captured the boy walking along the roadway, toward the bus stop, just before 6:00 a.m. At some point, shortly after walking out of the video frame, the child was hit. A dark-colored sedan traveling northbound on West Lake Drive is seen seconds before the incident took place and, at this time, is considered a vehicle of interest.
"We are urging anyone who may have witnessed this incident, or who may recognize the vehicle in question, to please come forward," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "No tip is too small and may help our detectives identify the driver at fault. While we investigate this crash, we want to remind drivers to remain alert, at all times, of their surroundings. With school back in session, children are walking to school or bus stops, and it is imperative that drivers remain focused on the pedestrians around them."
Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at (813) 247-8200.