[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 05/29/20]
TAVARES, Florida — A Tavares man was arrested early Thursday morning after he was accused of hitting a woman walking down Old U.S. Highway 441 in Tavares late Wednesday night and leaving the scene.
A friend of the victim went to the scene in the 15200 block of Old U.S. Highway 441 to gather his friend’s belongings and while he was there, he found a mirror and a red mirror casing, according to an arrest affidavit. A man later identified Nathan Maurice White, 23, came to the scene in a red car that was missing a mirror and he appeared to be looking for something. The victim’s friend approached White and asked him if he was missing the mirror to his car, the friend told a Tavares Police officer.
White returned to his car in a hurry and as he sped away, the friend was able to see the license plate and he gave that information to police, as well as describing the man, a description similar to White. Police went to the hospital and spoke with the victim, who possibly has a broken arm and internal injuries, and she said she was walking west down Old U.S. Highway 441 when she was struck from behind and knocked to the ground. She was able to get up and walk to her friend’s house and was given a ride to the hospital. The victim was unable to give a written statement, due to her pain, the affidavit states.
The arresting officer ran the license plate provided by the victim’s friend and found that it belonged to a red Hyundai and was owned by a woman in Tavares. The officer went to the woman’s home and she said her son, White, was driving the car.
White told police he was driving down Old U.S. Highway 441 when he “heard a loud bang, but wasn’t sure what is was,” the affidavit states. White said he noticed his mirror was missing when he reached Main Street and he called his mother and told her he may have hit something. He said he then turned around and went back to the scene and told police he did see the victim’s friend walking around with a flashlight but did not hear him ask about the vehicle’s mirror.
White was taken into custody and charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving injuries. He was released from the Lake County Jail on $5,000 bond.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
