Man Hit 2 Women with Car, Cops Say

Editor's note: This story has been updated with new information from the St. Petersburg Police Department. Earlier information provided by the agency indicated a family relationship between the man arrested and one of the victims. That connection turned out to be inaccurate, the police department reported late on Monday.

St. Petersburg, FL — A 26-year-old St. Petersburg man faces criminal charges after police say he struck two people with a car on purpose.

According to St. Petersburg Police, the incident that led to Robert Templeton’s arrest began to unfold around 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Templeton went to a home in the 2500 block of 13th Avenue South to see Alana Simpson, 27, police said.

The two got into an argument and Templeton struck Simpson, police wrote in an email to media.

Sign up for the St. Pete Patch newsletter and alerts!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, too!

Templeton then left in his car, but circled back into the alley behind the home, police wrote. At that point, the argument continued and police say Templeton intentionally drove his car at Simpson, striking her in the leg.

The car also hit Templeton’s 17-year-old Christina Gaffney, police noted. Gaffney suffered several serious injuries and was taken to Bayfront Health in critical condition. By Monday, police said Gaffney’s condition had improved to stable.

Simpson suffered minor injuries, police said.

As for Templeton, police found him and his car several miles from the scene Sunday night. He has since been charged with aggravated battery and domestic battery. Templeton was being held in the Pinellas County Jail on Monday in lieu of $20,000 bond.

Booking photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Jail