6-Month-Old Baby Killed In Hit-And-Run Crash In Pasco County

PASCO COUNTY, FL — The driver of a tractor trailer truck hauling cars was arrested Thursday after being accused of causing a crash that killed a 6-month-old baby, and then fleeing the scene.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, on Thursday at 12:26 a.m., a Ford Fusion driven by a 34-year-old Bradenton man was traveling south on Interstate 75 when a tire went flat on the car. The driver stopped and let out two passengers, a 32-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man, who began to flag traffic away from the car as it limped toward the shoulder of the interstate.

Troopers said 31-year-old Aramis Peralta Ramirez was driving a tractor trailer truck with a car hauler south on I-75 just north of State Road 52, and failed to see the passengers waving traffic away so the Ford could get safely off the road.

The tractor trailer truck crashed into the Ford. Troopers said Ramirez continued driving south on I-75 without stopping, according to the highway patrol.

Inside the Ford were a 6-month-old baby, an 8-month-old baby and a 3-year-old child, said the highway patrol.

The 6-month-old died at the scene. The 8-month-old and 3-year-old suffered minor injuries.

Following the crash, Ramirez stopped the semi truck along the exit ramp to SR 52 to check for damages and then continued west on SR 52 and south on Old Pasco Road where the truck broke down, said troopers.

Pasco County sheriff's deputies found the truck and arrested Ramirez, charging him with leaving the scene of a crash involving a death.