A tragic event unfolded in Largo as a woman and a child were severely injured in a hit-and-run outside a Walmart. The Largo Police Department swiftly responded to an emergency at the Walmart located at 2677 Roosevelt Boulevard, after receiving reports of the incident last night, WFLA reports.
The driver, identified as 32-year-old Lauren Howells, hit an adult woman and a child with her vehicle before crashing into other parked cars and fleeing the scene. Following the crash, the victims were urgently taken to local hospitals for treatment; the adult woman sustained serious injuries, and the child is facing critical, life-threatening conditions, as per the Largo Police Department's announcement.
Investigators worked diligently to locate Howells, who was found and arrested at the Clearwater Inn located at 2960 Gulf to Bay Boulevard, IONTB confirms. She has been charged with several offenses, including leaving the scene with property damage, two counts of leaving the scene with serious bodily injury, one count of reckless driving with serious injury.
The details concerning the exact ages or identities of the victims have not been disclosed by the authorities. However, the injured child was transported to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, while the adult female was taken to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg, FOX13 News stated.
The Largo community has been deeply affected by this harrowing incident. The Largo Police Department continues its investigation and urges anyone with potentially helpful information to come forward.
