Hit and Run Suspect Surrenders, Says FHP

A Palm Harbor man suspected in a hit and run crash that happened in June of 2012 was arrested after turning himself in to the Florida Highway Patrol.

On Janurary 25, FHP Officers arrested Dennis Eddie Eikel, 53, on a charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage.

Investigators say that on June 27, 2012, Eikel was driving a 1999 Ford F250 pickup truck and sideswiped another truck when backing into a parking space at the Westshore Pizza located at 1346 Tampa Rd. Eikel then allegedly left the scene.

The incident caused an estimated $2,000 damage to a 2005 Ford F250 pickup truck owned by Patricia Suzanne Lefevre of Clearwater. Two people witnessed the accident, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

FHP Officers contacted the registered owners of the 1999 Ford F250 involved in the crash. The owners said Eikel was a former employee of their business. On January, 25, 2013 Eikel turned himself in to the Pinellas Florida Highway Patrol Station located at 7651 U.S. 19, according to the crash report.

FHP officers asked Eikel to explain what happened on the day of the hit-and-run. According to the crash report, Eikel said, "There wasn't any damage, so I left."

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