The driver of a stolen vehicle who ran off after hitting a girl Tuesday afternoon is in custody and was wanted on a warrant, troopers said.
- Girl struck by vehicle hospitalized in critical condition
- Driver of vehicle ran off; was wanted on warrant, FHP says
- Troopers: Vehicle was stolen, as was tag on vehicle
Two eighth graders from Union Park Middle School, a girl and a boy, were walking home together along the sidewalk on North Dean Road and River Park Boulevard in Orange County on Tuesday afternoon.
“I hear the swerving, I turn around to see what it is, and like he is just coming straight at me,” said the boy, Jaxon Wells.
That's when Florida Highway Patrol said suspect Travis Johnson, driving a stolen truck, lost control, struck the girl and grazed the boy.
She was taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in critical condition.
“I don’t think she had time to react, but I am just really thankful she is all right,” Jaxon of his friend, 14-year-old Jacelyn Diehl.
Jacelyn is now in stable condition and is expected to survive.
Troopers said Johnson was found by Orange County Sheriff's K-9 units after he ran off.
Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Kim Montes said the vehicle was stolen, as was its tag, which did not belong to the stolen vehicle.
Montes also said he had a suspended license because of the warrant for his arrest.
“Obviously a lot of reasons, and this is why we see people leave the scene of a crash," Montes said. "This is an epidemic problem here, he didn’t even stay to see if the children that he struck were safe or uninjured.”
FHP will be charging Johnson with felony leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury, driving without a license, and the warrant for fleeing on a stolen motorcycle last July. And Orange County will be charging him with the stolen vehicle, stolen tag and no license.