Police: Truck Struck Construction Worker and Fled

A St. Petersburg man allegedly hit a construction worker and left the scene of the accident Thursday morning on 133rd Avenue North in Largo, according to police.

John Charles Rygiel Jr., 61, of St. Petersburg, was traveling along 133rd Avenue North just before 6 a.m., when his 2007 Toyota truck "struck the victim who was a member of an asphalt paving crew causing the victim to fall to the ground," according to an arrest affidavit.

The Toyota truck allegedly sped from the scene but was followed by witnesses until Largo Police officers stopped the vehicle, authorities said.

The victim was transported to Largo Medical Center for his injuries.

Rygiel was cited with careless driving and arrested on the charge of leaving the scene of a crash with injury, police report.

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