A 23-year-old Oldsmar man was taken into custody after a hit-and-run crash on northbound U.S. 19 in Tarpon Springs left a motorcyclist seriously injured just after 7 p.m. on Wednesday, police said. Witnesses and surveillance video captured a Hyundai Sonata speeding away from the scene with heavy damage to its left rear side, and officers later learned the rider had to be rushed to the hospital as a trauma alert. The motorcyclist remains under treatment.
According to WFTS, Tarrin Gold of Oldsmar has been charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury, failure to give information and render aid, and fleeing and eluding. WFTS reports that detectives located the damaged sedan and booked Gold while they continue to investigate what led up to the violent collision.
Crash caught on camera, victim hospitalized
Tarpon Springs Police say the crash unfolded just after 7 p.m. on northbound U.S. 19 near Martin Luther King Drive and involved a motorcycle and a newer-model Hyundai Sonata, according to FOX 13. FOX 13 reports that video shows the Sonata leaving the scene with a missing rear taillight housing and a partially detached bumper, details investigators say should be hard to miss. Officers are asking anyone who might have seen the wreck or captured it on dash-cam to contact Officer Nate Briseno at 727-938-2849.
Vehicle located in Oldsmar, suspect arrested
Investigators tracked the damaged Hyundai to Oldsmar and, with assistance from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, identified and arrested Gold, WFTS reports. Authorities say a mix of surveillance footage and witness tips helped them zero in on the car and the driver. Officials have not released any information about a possible motive.
Why this stretch of U.S. 19 matters
Tarpon Springs police data show the intersection of U.S. 19 and Martin Luther King Drive ranks among the city's top crash hot spots, underscoring what many local drivers already suspect about the busy corridor. The department's monthly analysis flags repeated wrecks and a high number of traffic citations along U.S. 19, reinforcing concerns that the roadway demands extra caution and more patience from drivers and riders alike. The Tarpon Springs Police Department breaks down recent crash and citation counts in its report.
Legal implications
Under Florida law, leaving the scene of a crash that causes serious bodily injury is a felony that can carry prison time, restitution, and a lengthy driver's-license revocation. Aggravated fleeing or eluding can bring even tougher penalties if investigators determine a driver tried to escape or caused additional harm. For more on the specific penalties, see statute 316.027 via the Florida Senate and statute 316.1935 via the Florida Senate.
Tarpon Springs Police and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office are continuing to investigate. Anyone with information is urged to contact Officer Briseno or the Tarpon Springs Police tip line. This story will be updated if officials release additional details.
