22-Year-Old Man Charged In Clearwater Hit-And-Run Of Pedestrian

CLEARWATER, FL -- Clearwater Police have charged a 22-year-old man in connection with a hit-and-run accident Tuesday, Nov. 6, that left a pedestrian critically injured.

Chase Childers of Clearwater was charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury and careless driving. He was booked in to the Pinellas County Jail.

The 59-year-old female pedestrian was crossing Drew Street in a crosswalk at 5:37 a.m.when she was struck by a car driven by Childers, who was making a left turn from southbound Fort Harrison onto eastbound Drew Street. He initially stopped and called 911, then left the scene after telling fire rescue workers he had found the woman laying in the street.

Childers was later tracked down by officers and admitted to striking the pedestrian. He said he was distracted by looking at his phone when he made the turn and hit the woman. He added that he left the scene because he was scared.

The unnamed victim remains in critical condition at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg.

Image via Clearwater Police

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