St. Petersburg Man Killed in Hit-and-Run Crash

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal Thursday night hit-and-run crash that left a 36-year-old man dead.

According to the agency, Randal Ripple was walking south across 54th Avenue North, just west of 58th Street North, around 9:08 p.m. Oct. 6. Ripple was not using a designated crosswalk and was struck by a Jeep Patriot, driven by Teena Harrigan, 45, of St. Petersburg.

Harrigan, deputies say, was heading east in the median lane of 54th Avenue North at the time.

“Investigators say within seconds of Teena’s Jeep striking Randal, a second vehicle, a white four-door hatchback struck Randal and dragged him several feet before stopping,” an email from the sheriff’s office said. The hatchback’s driver pulled over, got out, spoke with Harrigan and then left without providing any information, the email noted.

Ripple was pronounced dead at the scene.

Harrigan remained at the crash scene for deputies and voluntarily provided a blood draw, the email said. No impairment is suspected on her part.

Deputies found several empty alcohol containers on the south side of 54th Avenue North, the email said. A witness told deputies Ripple had been sitting in the area, drinking what is believed to have been alcoholic beverages before the wreck happened.

“Impairment is suspected with Randal,” the agency noted.

A search for the second driver remains active. The man is described as a white male in his 50s or 60s. He has a medium build and stands about 5-foot-5. His hatchback was last seen heading east on 54th Avenue North.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 727-582-6200.

No further information is available at this time.

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