A Florida woman was arrested after she reportedly hit a teenager with her truck, tried to cover her tracks, and sped off. The incident happened in Deltona, Florida, at the intersection of Gage Avenue and Noah Street, leaving the community shocked.
The suspect, 37-year-old Sarah Wright, was taken into custody on Thursday. She now faces charges of leaving the scene of a crash with injuries and driving with a suspended license.
It all unfolded just before 4 p.m. when a 16-year-old boy was heading home from Pine Ridge High School on his scooter. As he crossed the road using the crosswalk, a black Chevrolet Silverado struck him. The boy fell hard, suffering a deep cut on the back of his head and an injury to his arm. Despite the pain, he stayed alert and conscious.
A woman nearby checking her mailbox witnessed the crash. She said that after hitting the teenager, Wright got out of her truck and initially checked on him. But instead of waiting for help or owning up to her actions, she went back to her truck, covered her license plate with paper and tape, and drove off.
Thankfully, the witness caught a glimpse of the first character on the license plate and shared it with investigators. A Ring camera in the area also recorded the truck speeding away. Both the teenager and the witness gave detailed descriptions of Wright, which helped authorities track her down quickly.
Law enforcement used a License Plate Reader camera in the neighborhood to locate Wright’s vehicle. She was found in Flagler County with help from the Florida Highway Patrol and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. Wright was arrested and taken to the Flagler County Jail, where her bond was set at $3,500.
The injured teenager needed staples for his head wound and treatment for his arm but is expected to recover fully. Meanwhile, the community is relieved to see justice served, thanks to the quick thinking of the witness and efficient work by the police.