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

Woman checking tires in I-95 emergency lane hit, killed

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An SUV troopers believe hit and killed a 25-year-old woman Saturday and didn't stop has been found, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Troopers said Jazmin Rodriguez was headed to her second job Saturday when she pulled over to check her tires on I-95, near the Old St. Augustine Road exit.

They said Rodriguez, who had an 8-year-old son, was stopped in the outside emergency lane, and someone in a silver Honda SUV hit her and kept going. The crash threw Rodriguez under her car, officials said. She died at the hospital.

Troopers had been searching for the vehicle, which kept going.

Her boyfriend said Rodriguez regained consciousness for a short time before she died and was able to tell police that the vehicle that hit her was a silver Honda Pilot that could have been made in 2009 through 2011.

Days later, a man, who asked not to be identified, called Jacksonville homicide detective to say that he believed the vehicle involved was at his business.

“Sunday, I got a call from somebody (that) there had been an accident. Monday, when I woke up and saw the news, the vehicle I had in my possession here fit the description of the vehicle that was involved with the accident on 95,” the man said. “I contacted JSO homicide, and they sent FHP out here, and they did their job. Once you have knowledge of a crime, of a possible crime, and you are in possession of possible evidence, that puts you involved. The right thing to do is call, and that’s what I did. I called JSO.”

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.

Rodriguez' family is holding a memorial for her from 4-8 p.m. at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home on San Jose Boulevard in Mandarin.


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