TAMPA, Fla. — Days spent at Tampa General Hospital in April left Robert "Robby" Kirkland more thankful for his friends and family.
10 Tampa Bay first met Kirkland two months ago less than 24 hours after he was discharged from the hospital after being hit by a driver.
"I'm just pretty much pushing through physical therapy right now," Kirkland said.
The beloved bartender, popular at the Reservoir Bar in Ybor City, was on his way to work one night when Tampa police said a driver didn't stop at the stop sign, hit Kirkland, and rushed off on North 15th Avenue and South Ybor Frontage Road near the La Segunda Bakery.
Kirkland was left on the road for dead until a friend found him.
It only took days for loved ones and strangers to raise thousands of dollars for Kirkland. Friends said Kirkland, known for his warmth as well as his skateboarding skills, didn't deserve what happened to him.
"He's a good dude. He takes care of everybody," friend Marley Bando said. "He's got love."
Kirkland's case is one of at least thousands of cases reported annually to the Florida Highway Patrol.
In 2023, there were 104,273 hit-and-run crashes in Florida, FHP stated.
Nearly a quarter of all crashes result in hit-and-runs, but most end up being property damage.
"The law is very clear," FHP Sgt. Steve Gaskins said. "If you're involved in a traffic crash, you need to stop, render aid, call law enforcement, call 911, report the incident."
Gaskins said at times the driver may not be at fault. Pedestrians and bicyclists share responsibility, too.
A citation may all be what a driver faces in some cases, but everything changes when one leaves the scene.
"You've now taken that and turned it into a felony by leaving the scene, leaving someone injured or dead at a crash scene," Gaskins said.
Solving hit-and-run cases may not be as simple as identifying the vehicle in question as well and not all roads may record.
Gaskins said witness statements and tops can be vital to helping crack unsolved hit-and-run cases. In addition, cameras from nearby businesses or homes can help track those committing the crimes.
Two months later, Kirkland said he's moving on with no anger nor hatred for the driver responsible.
He said the support he gets from his family and friends help him find closure.
"There's someone to blame but there's no one to point a finger at so life is gonna go on, you just got to keep going," Kirkland said.
Depending on the severity, those who hit-and-run could face a second or third-degree felony for injuries and a first-degree felony for deaths with up to a 30-year prison sentence, Florida Highway Patrol said.