Hit-and-run victims join to raise awareness with Florida Highway Patrol

BRADENTON -- Hours before the Florida Highway Patrol was set to hold a press conference aimed at educating the public about hit-and-run drivers, a tow truck driver was killed while assisting a disabled vehicle. The person who killed him just drove away.

Just 8 hours after the hit-and-run crash on the Howard Frankland Bridge that killed Rogelio Perez-Borroto, Trooper Kenneth Watson discussed the case in an effort to get someone to come forward. The suspect driver in the fatal hit-and-run, Allison Faye Huffman, 36, of Riverview, was arrested later.

"Here's a perfect opportunity for someone who might be able to advise where that vehicle was going or possibly who was driving," Watson said. "Please take advantage of the opportunity that we're giving you today. You can dial *FHP, which is *347. It is a toll-free number, it goes directly to our dispatch, and it works in all 67 counties in the state of Florida."

The press conference had been arranged weeks before and included victims of previous hit-and-run crashes who talked about being hit.

Mark Abbacchi's life was forever changed in June while driving north on Interstate 75 in Sarasota, when a swerving driver crashed into him.

"I'm a 24-year-old kid who got hit by someone who looked at me, and laughed and ran," Abbacchi said. "It chokes me up to talk about this kind of thing because it's still not resolved and I don't know how long this is going to affect me for."

Abbacchi, of Bradenton, was left with back and leg injuries and now wears an abdominal brace. He opened up Monday about the crash that altered his life.

As he stood in the parking lot of the FHP Station at 5023 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton, Abbacchi said he hasn't been the same since that spring day. Beside him stood Maja Kazazic, a witness to the crash who recorded the moment Abbacchi was hit and gave authorities all the information she could.

It was the first time Abbacchi shared his story publicly as part of the "Hit and Run, Bad to Worse," an awareness campaign by the Florida Highway Patrol. The campaign aims to reduce the number of hit-and-run traffic crashes by educating drivers so they know their responsibilities and the consequences of leaving the scene of an accident.

"Florida has seen an increase in hit-and-run crashes," said Florida Highway Patrol Maj. John F. Baumann at the press conference. "In 2014, there were over 84,000 hit-and-run crashes. That number increased to over 92,000 in 2015, resulting in over 19,000 injuries."

According to a release, there also were 186 fatalities reported in the state in 2015.

"The most important thing a driver can do when they're involved in a crash is to remain at the scene and call for help," Baumann said. "Remaining at the scene will not only spare a driver significant legal penalties, but it may save a life."

The consequence of leaving the scene of a crash involving a death is a first-degree felony, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in a state correctional facility and fines of up to $10,000.

Leaving the scene of a crash involving injuries is a third-degree felony, which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in a state correctional facility and a fine of up to $5,000. And hit-and-run drivers often are caught.

Kazazic, who met Abbachi for the first time Monday, said she called 911 after filming the suspect driver swerving on the road.

"It's just the right thing do to. I don't understand people that just don't want to do the right thing," the 38-year-old Palm Harbor resident said. "It's not just the driver of the vehicle that has to do the right thing and stop, but we as witnesses have to do the right thing and stop or make a note and say what happened because who knows what's happening. We don't know what's going to make a difference and we can't take the chance of 'Oh, someone else is going to do it.'"

Abbachi said he can't shake the feeling that he might have been killed.

"I tried to get away from him. He found me," Abbacchi said. "It's terrible because I could have been dead... I could have lost my life."

Jim Sanders, who lost his wife, Joyce Sanders, in a hit-and-run crash in 2014, also spoke. The Sarasota resident shared his story during last year's press conference, less than four months after his wife's death.

"Thanks to the hard work of the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver that we believe caused Joyce's death that morning has been arrested and is now facing significant jail time," Sanders said. "What most of us don't realize -- we all hop in our car every day and go wherever we need to go -- but we don't realize that we're operating basically a deadly weapon."

Amaris Castillo, law enforcement/island reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7051. Follow her on Twitter @AmarisCastillo.

This story was originally published February 15, 2016 at 8:07 PM with the headline "Hit-and-run victims join to raise awareness with Florida Highway Patrol ."