New Port Richey Man Arrested 10 Months After Hit-And-Run Crash

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — A driver accused of committing a hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian on Jan. 11 has turned himself into the Florida Highway Patrol.

On Monday, James Robert Altenhofen, 62, of New Port Richey was charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving a death.

At 12:50 a.m. Jan 11, a 27-year-old Anthony Talotta of New Port Richey was walking along the east shoulder of Little Road, just south of the intersection of Heritage Lake Boulevard. Altenhofen was driving on Little Road approaching the intersection of Heritage Lake Boulevard when another vehicle operated by Talotta's mother stopped in the northbound left-turn lane to give her son a ride.

Talotta began to walk across Little Road to his mother's vehicle when Altenhofen struck him and then kept driving, according to the highway patrol. Talotta died at the scene.

Troopers found debris at the crash scene that indicated the vehicle involved was a 2002 Toyota Tacoma. Troopers found the Tacoma the following day and identified Altenhofen as the driver. DNA evidence found on the Tacoma later confirmed it was the vehicle that struck and killed the pedestrian.

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