Crime & Safety
Ruskin Man, 45, Arrested In Hit-And-Run
A quick-thinking motorist who jotted down a tag number helped troopers catch an accused hit-and-run driver.
RUSKIN, FL — A 45-year-old Ruskin man faces careless driving and hit-and-run charges following a Sunday afternoon crash on U.S. 41.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Kirk Matthew Willing was driving north on U.S. 41, just south of 15th Avenue Northeast, around 2 p.m. March 12. At that time, troopers say Melinda Plehn, 70, of Apollo Beach was heading north in a Toyota SUV ahead of Willing’s Nissan Rogue.
Troopers say Willing overtook the SUV and struck its rear. After the crash, Willing is accused of leaving the scene.
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Plehn, however, managed to get the tag number on the Rogue before it took off. Troopers later picked up Willing and charged him for leaving the scene of a crash with damage, along with careless driving.
No injuries were reported in the crash.
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Photo courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol
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