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FHP campaign hopes to reduce hit and run crashes

Posted at 7:29 AM, Feb 13, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-13 07:29:47-05

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Florida Highway Patrol is conducting an awareness campaign taking a look at hit and run crashes.

In Southwest Florida alone, there were seven unsolved hit and run cases last year, including the death of a Bonita Springs woman.

In 2015 there were over 92,000 hit and run crashes in Florida involving over 19,000 injuries and 186 deaths.  The 2016 numbers haven't come in yet but officials believe they'll be higher than the 2015 amounts.

That's why FHP is conducting their "Stay at the Scene" campaign.

"In all of our hit and runs, someone has seen something or someone has said something, knows something,” says Lt. Greg Bueno with Florida Highway Patrol.

In Florida, if you leave the scene of a crash that results in injury you could receive a third degree felony with penalties up to 5 years in prison or 5 years probation, and a $5,000 fine.  If the accident involves death, it's a first degree penalty, with up to 30 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Drivers are urged to dial *FHP (*347) from your cell phone to report a hit and run, impaired or aggressive driver.