Two people have died in three hit-and-run crashes this week. None of the drivers involved have been located or arrested by police as of Friday evening.
A 35-year-old Gainesville woman was hit Thursday afternoon by an unknown car at 500 SE Williston Road while crossing the median to the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail.
Olga Svetlana Munoz Pogoretts, who was jogging while with a friend on a bicycle at 4:30 p.m., was hit by a dark colored SUV in the crosswalk, according to the Gainesville Police Department.
The car near the trail slowed down before it sped up and drove south on Southeast Williston Road, according to GPD. Fleeing the scene of a crash regardless of a person’s injuries or property damage, is a criminal offense.
Pogoretts, who was taken to UF Health Shands Hospital, is in critical condition, according to GPD.
Margaret Paxton, an 18-year-old UF natural resources and conservation junior and Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority member, was killed Wednesday night after crossing the street at 2000 W. University Ave. across from UF campus. The vehicle, travelling westbound, was likely a BMW sedan, GPD said.
A 46-year-old Gainesville bicyclist was killed Tuesday night, during a crash at Southeast 27th Street, according to Florida Highway Patrol.
FHP said it found the car involved in the crash, a 2010 Hyundai Accent, on Wednesday afternoon, but have not located who drove the car and fled the scene.
If anyone has more information about the cyclist crash, can contact Lt. Patrick Riordan at 386-754-6283.
Anyone who has information about the other incidents should call Officer Debra Page at 352-393-7744 or email at pagedj@cityofgainesville.org.
Asta Hemenway is a third-year senior majoring in Journalism. Born in Tallahassee, she grew up Senegalese American. When she’s not writing or doing school, she loves watching Netflix and Tiktok in her spare time.
