Palm Harbor Woman Killed in Hit-And-Run Crash

An 80-year-old Palm Harbor woman is dead following a hit-and-run accident along U.S. 19 Tuesday evening.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Virginia L. Hughes was walking eastbound across the northbound lanes a few feet north of Moog Road around 6:23 p.m. when she walked into the path of an oncoming vehicle. That vehicle struck the woman and fled the scene at a high rate of speed.

Hughes was taken to Northbay Hospital where she died from injuries.

A search for the vehicle involved in the crash was launched. Troopers acted on a tip and tracked down a 2014 black BMW suspected as being the vehicle involved in the accident. The car was parked at the registered owner’s Tampa home, Troopers said. It is now being held as evidence, pending the outcome of the investigation.

The driver’s identity has not yet been released and charges remain pending.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol