FHP has person of interest in hit-and-run crash that killed teen. They also have his truck
Troopers may have identified the driver of the pickup truck involved in a hit-and-run crash that killed a 15-year-old boy riding his skateboard, Florida Highway Patrol said Thursday.
Just before 3 a.m Wednesday, the driver of the 2012 silver Toyota Tacoma was headed north on Upper Manatee River Road and the victim, Thomas Jaren Croumbley, was headed in the same direction on his skateboard, according to FHP.
When Croumbley tried to cross the street, he turned into the pickup truck’s path.
The Tacoma hit the boy, who was thrown onto the pavement between the right turn lane to Waterlefe Boulevard and the bicycle lane of Upper Manatee Road. He died at the scene.
Troopers have since seized the Tacoma but its owner did not admit to anything when he and his attorney briefly met troopers and handed over his driver’s license, according to FHP.
The meeting took place at the Bradenton Police Department sometime Wednesday night, after troopers received a tip that someone with information about the crash would meet them there, according to Trooper Kenneth R Watson. When they arrived a Parrish man was standing with his attorney, who handed over his driver’s license, and told them it may be the information they needed for their investigation.
“We immediately went to that address and discovered a vehicle that matched the description,” Watson said.
Troopers worked quickly to obtain a search warrant, and were able to seize the vehicle. The extensive damage to the front end of the Tacoma matched what investigators said they were expecting based on the evidence found at the scene.
“It was an incredibly violent crash,” Watson said of the damage, with a reminder that it was caused by a 15-year-old boy’s body that might not have weighed more than 110 pounds. “I think everyone will be soberly reminded of what a vehicle could do to a body and a body could do to a vehicle.”
Meanwhile, the owner of the Tacoma, whose name has not been released, is being considered as a person of interest as FHP homicide investigators and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement work to piece together the evidence.
The driver could face charges of vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a crash causing death. Additional charges could also be possible if any effort was made to clean up the Tacoma.
Investigators will not be able to explore whether the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol because of the time that lapsed between the crash and when he came forward.
Anyone with information about the crash or the driver can call Florida Highway Patrol at 239-938-1800 or *347 on a cell phone.
This story was originally published October 24, 2019 at 11:48 AM.
