Many families of hit-and-run victims endure long wait for justice

Crime analyst explains why cases are so complex, may take years to solve

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The family of a young mother killed in a hit-and-run crash may have to wait awhile for justice. 

News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith explained that cases like Jazmin Rodriguez's can be complex and take time to solve.

Rodriguez, 25, was checking her tires Saturday on the side of Interstate 95, near the Old St. Augustine Road exit, when someone in an SUV fatally struck her and kept going, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. 

News4Jax has reported several hit-and-run cases in which there have been no arrests made, even years later.

Smith said there's only one answer for why the cases are still unsolved.

"There are just so many different factors that can go into it. No two cases are going to be alike," he said.

In 2014, Morgan Calaway, 3, was killed while crossing U.S. 17 in San Mateo. Troopers said they found the car involved, but there were three people inside at the time, and they've yet to determine who was driving. 

"What investigators will do is try to look at the physical evidence that's in the car if they're not sure who the driver is. If it's an accident, there could be skin or some hair in the windshield that would lead them to who the driver may be," Smith said. 

In Rodriguez's case, troopers said they have not yet made an arrest, despite finding the SUV believed to be involved. 

RELATED: Troopers find SUV believed to be involved in deadly hit-and-run

Smith said finding the person responsible takes time. 

"If it's been several days or a week or two later, where different people could have been in and out of the car, then it's going to be more difficult for investigators to do that," Smith said. "The sooner they recover the car after, the better chance they have in determining who the driver was."

Troopers took the SUV into evidence, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is processing it. If it's confirmed to be the vehicle that hit Rodriguez, the next question would be who was driving it at the time.

There's no timeline on how long that will take.