© 2024 All Rights reserved WUSF
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

State Troopers Release Data On Florida's Hit-And-Run Crashes

Polk County Sheriff's Department

State troopers say 186 people died in hit-and-run crashes in Florida last year.

According to statistics released Monday by the Florida Highway Patrol, more than half the fatalities last year were pedestrians. Officials say hit-and-run crashes also caused over 19,000 injuries last year.

State troopers responded to over 23,000 of the roughly 92,000 hit-and-run crashes reported last year.

Col. Gene Spaulding says drivers have been known leave the scene of a crash because they're scared, they're impaired, they have a suspended driver's license or they lack insurance.

Florida law requires drivers to stop immediately at the scene of a crash that results in injury or death. Leaving the scene of such a crash is a felony with a mandatory minimum sentence of four years in prison.

You Count on Us, We Count on You: Donate to WUSF to support free, accessible journalism for yourself and the community.