A Florida driver was involved in two hit-and-run car crashes before being involved in a third crash where she was seriously injured, and the other male driver was killed.
Katlynn Smith of Seminole drove her Toyota Camry near Starkey Rd. and Bryan Dairy Rd. around 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, in Pinellas Park, when she allegedly came into collision with another car after illegally changing lanes, investigators said, WTVT reported.
28-year-old Smith ignored the crash and continued, which prompted the other driver to follow her and call the police. Shortly, Smith crashed into another car that was waiting for the traffic light at Belcher Road.
Smith again fled the scene, witnessed by the first driver who continued to follow her. She ran another red light at 66th Street and 70th Avenue and hit a Lexus IS250, side-on.
The Lexus was driven by 53-year-old Kanh Kim Nguyen of Largo; who was killed instantly. Smith herself sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital.
In the hospital, she was taken into custody and charged with vehicular homicide as well as hit and run with property damage.
The drivers involved in the first two crashes were not injured, according to ABC Action News.
Hit-and-Run Deaths at Record High
Hit-and-run incidents have been on the rise since 2010, according to a 2018 report published by the American Automobile Association, The Epoch Times reported.
The report analyzes car crash data from 2006 to 2016.
The AAA notes that the 2,049 fatalities resulting from hit-and-run crashes in 2016 were the highest number ever recorded—a 60 percent increase since 2009.
“Hit-and-run crashes in the United States are trending in the wrong direction,” said Dr. David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, according to a AAA news release. “Our analysis shows that hit-and-run crashes are a growing traffic safety challenge, and the AAA Foundation would like to work with all stakeholders to help curtail this problem.”
Most victims of hit-and-run crashes resulting in death are pedestrians or cyclists, according to the AAA.
The Association also notes that over the past 10 years, nearly 20 percent of all pedestrian deaths were caused by hit-and-run crashes.
It is illegal in every state for a driver involved in a crash to flee the scene.
Penalties include large fines, loss of license, or prison sentences.
Epoch Times reporter Tom Ozimek contributed to this report
