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80-year-old dies from injuries after hit-and-run; driver arrested

The driver is expected to face "upgraded" charges as a result of the man's death.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Clearwater police arrested the man they said crashed into an 80-year-old riding a scooter and drove off, leaving the man with critical injuries that would lead to his death.

Kris Paterson, 37, was driving his pickup truck when he made a right turn out of a parking lot and onto Gulf to Bay Boulevard, according to an update shared by police Tuesday morning. The area is near the intersection with Hampton Road, right outside the Original Hooters restaurant.

As Paterson made the right turn, he hit 80-year-old Ernest Coluzzi while he was riding a mobility scooter and continued to drive off with the scooter still stuck underneath his truck, officials said.

Investigators said after the crash, Paterson kept driving down Gulf to Bay Boulevard and stopped half a mile down the road at the South Bayview Avenue intersection to remove the scooter from the vehicle.

"He told officers he was aware he had run something over but was not aware it was a person," officials said in the announcement of Paterson's arrest. "He also said he was running late for his job."

Paterson was booked into the Pinellas County Jail late Monday night.

Officers responded to the crash along with Clearwater Fire & Rescue just after 2:45 p.m. Monday. Coluzzi was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa. 

In an update, authorities said Coluzzi died Wednesday afternoon.

Clearwater police said multiple witnesses sent in pictures and video related to the incident, which they said helped officers in the investigation.

Paterson was charged with one count of leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury.

Following Coluzzi's death, officials say the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office will file upgraded charges against Paterson.

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