LARGO, Fla. – A hit-and-run crash in a Walmart parking lot Thursday evening left a mother with serious injuries and her 6-year-old child in critical condition, according to the Largo Police Department. A 32-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Authorities said the crash occurred just before 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at the Walmart located at 2677 Roosevelt Blvd. The suspect vehicle, driven by Lauren Howells, 32, struck a mother and child who were exiting the store, as well as multiple parked vehicles before fleeing the scene.
The mother was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. Her 6-year-old child sustained critical, life-threatening injuries and was also taken to an area hospital. As of Friday morning, both victims remain hospitalized.
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Investigators located the suspect’s vehicle at a Days Inn on Gulf-to-Bay Blvd in Clearwater, thanks to assistance from the Clearwater Police Department. However, the driver was not with the vehicle.
Through the investigation, police learned Howells had left the hotel prior to the crash and returned shortly after in the damaged vehicle. It was then determined she left the Days Inn again in a second vehicle before Clearwater Police arrived.
Largo Police, while searching for Howells and the second vehicle, were notified by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office that deputies had stopped a separate vehicle also registered to Howells during a traffic stop. Working together, Largo Police and Pinellas County Deputies located Howells and took her into custody at The Murphy Hotel located at 4900 34th Street.
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During an interview with police, Howells reportedly admitted to being the driver, hitting something, and leaving the scene of the crash.
Howells faces multiple charges, including leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, two counts of leaving the scene of a crash with injuries, and reckless driving with serious bodily injury.
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