The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has arrested a man after a traffic fatality that occurred at Waters Avenue and Himes Avenue.
On February 25, 2024, at 6 a.m., HCSO received a 911 call in reference to a vehicle crash.
In the early morning, while leaving a nightclub, Jenri Fuentes Rodriguez, 39, collided with an occupied vehicle but proceeded to flee from the scene. After leaving the scene, Rodriguez pulled into a McDonald's parking lot, where he hit another vehicle, and he, yet again, continued without stopping.
Proceeding down Waters Avenue, traveling at a high rate of speed, Rodriguez then ran a red light, causing his car and another vehicle to collide and flip multiple times, forcing the victim and her vehicle into a wooden utility pole.
When our deputies arrived at the scene of the crash, they found Ann Marie Rutkowski, 59, deceased.
Rodriguez was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Upon being discharged from the hospital, Rodriguez was transported to Orient Road Jail and is currently facing a charge of vehicular homicide.
"My prayers are with this woman's family, as their loved one's life was taken because of the reckless actions of another individual," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "Our detectives are examining every piece of evidence in this investigation to ensure that this man is held fully accountable for his actions."
More charges may be forthcoming.
This is an open investigation. Any updates will come from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.