‘Staggering numbers’: Fatal hit-and-run crashes becoming too common

A 60-year-old man was killed Wednesday night

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Wednesday night’s fatal hit-and-run crash of Robert Lee Johnson, 60, of Jacksonville, highlights a problem seen by law enforcement statewide.

According to police, Johnson was crossing Avenue B near 45th Street when he was hit by a red Dodge Charger. The driver of the Dodge Charger did not stop to render aid to Johnson or call the police to report what happened. Johnson later died at the hospital.

News4JAX spoke with two of Johnson’s friends at the location where he was fatally hit. They were upset over what happened and demanded that the driver take responsibility.

“I think that could have been anyone’s father, brother, or son. Whoever did it needs to recognize that and turn themselves in,” Terry Simpo said.

“Robert went to church all the time. He was a good guy. You need to turn yourself in. Come up here and turn yourself in,” said Osborne Hall.

News4JAX Crime and Safety Analyst Tom Hackney, who retired as JSO Director of Investigations, said hit-and-run crashes appear to be happening more often.

“It’s way too often, especially when you start looking at the statistics into these hit-and-run crashes, especially the ones that involve injuries and fatalities. They’re just staggering numbers. It’s not just in Jacksonville. This is throughout the state and country,” Hackney said.

According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were 104,273 hit-and-run crashes in Florida last year. Of those, 271 hit-and-run crashes resulted in a fatality. Of that number, 159 of the victims were pedestrians and 47 were bicyclists.

It’s unclear why hit-and-run drivers drive off without stopping to check on the person they hit or report striking a vehicle.

“People are not sticking around and taking responsibility for what they have done,” Hackney said.

The data also revealed that more than 81% of the hit-and-run fatalities happened at night or in the early morning before sunrise. Hackney said there are some contributing factors to this specific data.

“People will cross the street wearing dark clothing and dart out in front of cars. There are a lot of factors that pedestrians and bicyclists have that contribute to crashes, but that doesn’t take the responsibility off the driver to do what they can to avoid hitting someone. It also doesn’t take responsibility off the driver by following the law,” Hackney said.

Florida law requires drivers involved in crashes that result in property damage, injury, or death to stay at the scene until first responders arrive. The driver involved in the crash is also required to provide information about the crash to law enforcement.

Relatives of fatal hit-and-run crash victims will often demand justice for their loved ones. They will also want an explanation of what led to the crash and why their loved one was left in the street without any attempt by the driver to stop and render aid.

“They’re left with so many questions and it’s bad enough that they lost a loved one,” Hackney said. “Maybe the pedestrian contributed to what happened, but when the driver doesn’t stick around, it leaves the victim’s family feeling like their loved one has been murdered because there is no justice and no answer to questions. There’s only a feeling of loss.”

If anyone has information that could help JSO locate the driver who killed Johnson, they are urged to call First Coast Crime Stoppers. The number is 1-866-845-TIPS (8477).


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