RIVERVIEW, Fla. – A man has been charged weeks after a hit-and-run accident on I-75 in Riverview left four people hospitalized. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) credits the victims’ detective work for helping lead to his arrest. The crash occurred on November 8 in the northbound lanes near the Gibsonton Dr. exit, FHP reported.
An arrest affidavit reveals that the driver of a gray Infiniti attempted to maneuver between two other cars, colliding with them before fleeing the scene.
Timeline of the Investigation
The following timeline is based on the Florida Highway Patrol’s arrest affidavit:
Nov. 9
The day after the crash, one of the victims sent dashcam footage to FHP, but troopers could not make out the vehicle’s tag number or the driver’s identity. The victim’s wife, also injured in the crash, later received a tip via social media stating that a gray Infiniti with heavy damage was spotted outside the Zoom Zoom gas station, just north of the crash site.
Nov. 10
The victim received another anonymous tip suggesting the suspect’s car was seen in the Fish Hawk area.
Nov. 11
The victim sent FHP an image showing the damaged Infiniti at the gas station shortly after the crash.
Nov. 12
FHP learned from another tipster that a damaged car matching the suspect’s vehicle description was parked under cover at a Riverview home.
Nov. 13
Surveillance footage sent to FHP revealed the Infiniti being towed from the Zoom Zoom gas station after the crash. The video also showed the driver wearing a shirt that suggested he worked for a pool company.
Nov. 15
FHP obtained more surveillance footage from the Zoom Zoom gas station, showing the Infiniti being towed and a woman arriving who was later identified as the suspect’s girlfriend.
Nov. 22
Troopers spoke with the towing company that had moved the Infiniti. Photos provided by the company matched the vehicle description, and the tow truck driver gave a detailed description of the suspect that matched the man in the surveillance footage.
Nov. 23
Investigators visited the Riverview home where the Infiniti was parked. A pool company truck was also located at the scene, matching the one seen in the surveillance video. The man who answered the door, identified as Alexander Elliott, 21, matched the description of the driver. Elliott admitted to owning the Infiniti but denied driving it at the time of the crash.
Nov. 28
The victim told FHP that Elliott was still using his work truck and had shaved his face, which further pointed to Elliott as the driver.
Dec. 3
Based on the accumulated evidence, FHP arrested Elliott on charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury and reckless driving.
Dec. 5
Jail records show that Elliott bonded out of jail following his arrest.
The investigation and swift action by the victims helped FHP piece together the details of the crash and ultimately identify Elliott as the hit-and-run driver.