CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a serious hit-and-run involving three people trick-or-treating on Friday night.
The crash happened near Sandhill Boulveard and Seasons Drive in a heavy trick-or-treating area.
According to troopers, 66-year-old Eugene Mandarino of Punta Gorda was driving a 2022 Dodge Ram 1500 hit a parked vehicle and three people. FHP said the adult, teenager and child had injuries and were sent to the hospital. Fox 4 has asked FHP about the extent of those injuries.
Troopers said Mandarino took off, but was later found at his home and was sent to the hospital.
Watch Fort Myers Community Correspondent Miyoshi Price's report:
He was arrested and charged with multiple counts of leaving a crash scene involving injuries.
The sequence of crash events remains under investigation, FHP said.
A Lehigh Acres father saved his baby daughter's life by pushing her stroller to safety moments before a truck struck him during a hit-and-run crash on Halloween night while trick or treating in Punta Gorda.
Isabella Rivera and her boyfriend Sawyer Ghee were trick-or-treating with their baby daughter Friday night at the intersection of Sandhill Boulevard and Seasons Drive when the crash happened, according to Florida Highway Patrol troopers.
Ghee was pushing their daughter in a stroller when his parental instincts kicked in just before impact.
"He was able to push the stroller away last minute so that she didn't get hurt," Rivera said.
Rivera said Ghee was wearing a bright orange construction shirt because he had just come from work.
"I find it very hard to believe that he did not see anybody in the road," Rivera said.
Troopers say the driver, 66-year-old Eugene Mandarino, fled the scene and was later arrested at his home.
While Ghee remains hospitalized with several injuries, Rivera said she's grateful their daughter is safe thanks to her father's quick thinking.
"Just how proud I am of him, and how genuinely selfless and brave he was to immediately think like it was instinctual. He immediately pushed her out of the way, and he is genuinely a hero," Rivera said.
The crash also involved a second family, according to troopers.
The family has set up a GoFundMe to help with medical bills.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
