Update: Arrest Made in Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash on U.S. 19

Update May 16, 5:45 p.m.:

The Florida Highway Patrol and Pinellas County deputies arrested the man they say was the driver of the Hyundai, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, 24-year-old Christopher Jones, of Tarpon Springs was arrested pending the final outcome of the investigation into the crash.

Update May 16 10:53 a.m.: The woman who died has been identified as Narissa Jo-Ann Robinson.

Earlier: 

An early morning hit-and-run crash at the intersection of U.S. 19 and 298^th Avenue has left a 28-year-old Clearwater woman dead.

The accident happened around 12:42 a.m. May 16 as the woman was riding her bike north in the outside turn lane of U.S. 19 approaching the intersection with 298^th Avenue, Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Steve Gaskins wrote in an email to media. The woman was overtaken by a white 2005 Hyundai four-door car that was also traveling north. The driver of that car struck the woman and then left the scene, Gaskins said.

The woman was ejected into the roadway where she was struck again a short time later by a 2012 Mercedes driven by Shereef Adel Moawad, 49, of Palm Harbor.

The woman was taken to Mease Countryside Hospital where she later died.

Police later found the Hyundai abandoned, and called in the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office’s K-9 Unit to help with a search for the driver. That search was unsuccessful, Gaskins said.

The bicyclist’s name is not being released at this time.

No charges are pending against Moawad, but troopers are looking for information to help them catch the hit-and-run driver.

Anyone who knows anything about the case is asked to call 83-631-4020.

Stay with Palm Harbor Patch for updates as they become available.

***

Keep up with all things local by signing up for the Palm Harbor Patch daily email newsletter!