Troopers searching for driver in New Port Richey hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - Florida Highway Patrol investigated a deadly hit-and-run in Pasco County on Tuesday, marking the third deadly hit-and-run crash in the Tampa Bay area this month, and at least the fourth overall.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, an unknown vehicle was traveling eastbound on Shamrock Drive around 8 p.m. when the driver struck a 70-year-old woman trying to cross the road at the intersection of Nimmer Drive.

Troopers say the pedestrian was taken to an area hospital where she later died from her injuries.

CRIME: Driver with suspended license arrested in hit-and-run crash that left bicyclist dead: Police

"It's devastating. People should just abide by the speed limit," said Amber Ruiz, who lives near the crash scene. "There's a speed limit in the neighborhood for a reason. You have families here. You have little kids here."

This accident was at least the fourth hit-and-run in the Tampa Bay area in the last three weeks. All but one was deadly.

The Tampa Police Department made arrests in two cases: The October 16 crash on Causeway Boulevard that killed a bicyclist and the one that killed Darrell Lawson, 57, last week, who was also riding his bike in East Tampa.

A hit-and-run accident on October 12 that seriously injured a moped driver in Tampa remains unsolved.

MORE: Video shows moped driver struck, dragged in Tampa hit-and-run; suspect still at large: TPD

According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department, there were nearly 108,000 hit-and-run crashes in the state last year, killing nearly 300 people. So far this year, there have been more than 82,000 cases in Florida, including about 16,500 in the Tampa Bay area. 

Fifty-five of the 205 people who died in those accidents were in our area.

"Who knows who's going to be next, you know, at this point. And if it's a little old lady last night, it could be a child tomorrow," Ruiz said.

According to FHP, evidence found at the Pasco hit-and-run crash scene suggests that the suspect’s vehicle may be a 1990s model Ford Ranger pickup truck. Anyone with information is asked to call *347 or Crime Stoppers at **TIPS.