Man Dies After Being Struck By Jeep In Tampa; Driver Arrested

TAMPA, FL — Tampa police have arrested a 21-year-old man accused of striking a man with his Jeep, causing the man's death.

On the morning of June 13, Tampa police responded to the 3100 block of West Harbor View Avenue after a caller, later identified as 21-year-old Jordan Aronson, stated that he had hit a man with his Jeep and then left the scene after the man tried to attack him.

Tampa Fire Rescue located the man in his 50s and took him to the hospital where doctors discovered he had multiple traumatic injuries, including injuries to his brain and skull. He was placed on a ventilator and died on June 21.

Detectives continued their investigation and gathered evidence that conflicted with statements made by Aronson, including a surveillance video that showed a fight between the victim and Aronson. Police said the video corroborated some portions of Aronson's statement and refuted others.

The video showed Aronson backing his Jeep to the road. The victim picked up a three-ring binder filled with paperwork, ran toward the Jeep and threw the binder at the Jeep.

Police said Aronson then drove forward in the Jeep, striking the victim with the front driver's side of the vehicle. As the victim began to fall to the driver's side of the Jeep, police said Aronson turned the Jeep toward that same side, appearing to track the falling victim.

The Jeep then appeared to hit a palm tree as the victim lay on the ground adjacent to the tree and the Jeep's tire.

The investigation was re-classified as a homicide following the man's death, and Aronson was arrested in Fort Lauderdale on June 23.