SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. — A 13-year-old girl who was hit by a car in a hit-and-run crash on Aug. 16 was pronounced dead on Sunday, Florida Highway Patrol said in a news release.
The teen was initially in critical condition when the collision happened and was transported to John Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, troopers say.
The Florida Highway Patrol says David Chang, 65, left the scene of the crash where he hit the teen who was riding her bike across a school crosswalk around 4:15 p.m. on East Bay Street at Old Venice Road.
Chang was charged and arrested for damage to property with bodily injury and tampering with evidence a day after the crash, but he faces new charges including hit-and-run with serious injuries and leaving the scene without rendering aid involving death.
Chang was found and arrested again on Sunday in Jacksonville, Arkansas, troopers say. He will be extradited to Sarasota to face his new charges.
FHP told 10 Tampa Bay that a civilian called the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office about the crash because they noticed Chang's damaged windshield.
Investigators also said that Chang had already taken the vehicle to Tampa to have it repaired. Chang reportedly told the mechanics a tree hit his car.
Chang told troopers he was too scared to stop, FHP said. According to reports, Chang has a clean driving and criminal record. He also has a valid driver's license.
Troopers say Chang lives within 1500 feet of the scene of the crash and knows there is a school zone nearby.
The investigation of the crash remains ongoing.