Hillsborough couple tracks down hit-and-run driver with dash camera video, social media

Couple tracks down hit-and-run driver

FOX 13's Kylie Jones reports that a Hillsborough County couple tracked down the driver involved in a Nov. 8 hit-and-run on I-75 near Gibsonton Drive with the help of dash camera video and social media.

GIBSONTON, Fla. - A Hillsborough County couple tracked down the driver involved a hit-and-run with the help of dash camera video and social media.

According to a report from Florida Highway Patrol troopers, the crash happened on November 8 on I-75 near Gibsonton Drive in Hillsborough County.

"I couldn’t believe it was happening when I first got hit," the victim Craig Celia said.

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Craig and his wife, Sharon Celia, said they were driving north to Tampa with two of their friends that evening. Sharon said she was sitting behind the driver's seat when she felt the impact of the crash.

Rear dash camera video from the couple’s car shows a car come up behind them in the middle lane and clip their car, propelling it across the right lane and into the guardrail.

"We were in the center lane," Sharon said. "We crossed over the right lane, we were spinning, hit the guardrail with the front of the car, then the back of the car. Continued to spin, I don't know how many times, back across the right lane again, back into the center lane again and stopped facing backwards."

Front dash camera video shows their car heading for the guardrail.

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"I could see the guardrail out the windshield and just thinking, ‘God, I hope it holds, and then I hope no one else hits us,'" Sharon said.

The couple’s dash camera video also showed the car hit a car in the left lane as it flew in between the left and middle lanes. According to the report, troopers said another victim said the driver in the car never stopped.

Troopers talked to the Celia's and a passenger in the other car that was hit. According to the report, troopers also spoke to a witness on the scene who said she saw the crash from behind and said the suspect's car tried to split the lane between the two cars.

The couple decided to share their dash camera video on social media to see if anyone saw or knew anything.

"Social media was on their case really," Craig said.

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Sharon said tips came flooding in overnight.

Booking photo for Alexander Elliott.

"We had the first tip that the car had pulled into the Zoom Zoom parking lot on Gibsonton Drive," she said.

Sharon said they contacted the convenience store and gas station, which had surveillance video that showed the car pulling into the parking lot, and eventually, being towed away. The couple followed a trail of some more tips, which eventually led to the driver.

On December 3, troopers arrested 21-year-old Alexander Elliott. He’s facing charges of leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury and reckless driving with serious bodily injury.

"We were really grateful when he got caught, and we when we got that phone call from the trooper," Craig said.

The couple hopes they can help keep this from happening to others.

"And, just grateful to the kindness of strangers," Sharon said.

The couple was taken to the hospital after the crash, but they’re home now.

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