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Mother speaks out after arrest is made in connection to deadly Gibsonton hit-and-run

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Published  December 13, 2024 11:14pm EST
Hillsborough County
FOX 13 News

Arrest in Gibsonton hit-and-run

FOX 13's Aaron Mesmer reports on an arrest being made in the hit-and-run case that killed 18-year-old Isaiah Raposa.

GIBSONTON, Fla. - Pasco County deputies arrested a man on Friday, Dec. 13, wanted in connection with a deadly hit-and-run accident in Gibsonton earlier in the week. 

Hillsborough County investigators said Jonathan Saldana Rojas, 27, was driving a white sedan on Wednesday, Dec. 11th, and turning left on Symmes Road in Gibsonton when he crashed into a motorcycle.

The motorcyclist, Isaiah Raposa, 18, died at the hospital. 

Image of Isaiah Raposa, the 18-year-old killed in Gibsonton hit-and-run.

Image of Isaiah Raposa, the 18-year-old killed in Gibsonton hit-and-run.

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Detectives said Rojas took off and was on the run until Dec. 13th, when Pasco deputies caught him. 

Mugshot of Jonathan Saldana Rojas, the man arrested in connection for the Gibsonton hit-and-run.

Mugshot of Jonathan Saldana Rojas, the man arrested in connection for the Gibsonton hit-and-run.

"How heartless can somebody be that you just leave somebody's child on the side of the road and like he was nothing?" said Jessica Washington, Isaiah's mother. "I just didn't sleep for two nights, just thinking about the fact that he was out there just not caring." 

Washington said her son graduated from high school last year and worked hard to earn a certificate in welding. 

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Washington said Isaiah's smile and laugh would light up a room. 

The cross-section where the hit-and-run took place.

The cross-section where the hit-and-run took place.

"You never saw him without a smile on his face. You never saw him mad. He just loved life," Washington told FOX 13 News, adding she can't believe she'll never hear his voice again. 

"He was my first son. Like, he was my heart. He called every day. There was not a day that went by that he didn't call me," Washington finished. 

Rojas is expected to be charged with leaving the scene of a deadly crash and driving without a license.

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