TAMPA, Fla. – A 19-year-old female bicyclist has died following a hit-and-run crash on Monday night, prompting Tampa Police to launch a traffic fatality investigation.
The incident occurred around 10:05 p.m. on May 25, 2026. The teenager was riding westbound on W. Waters Avenue, traveling on the far-right side of the road, when a vehicle heading the same direction in the far-right lane struck her near the N. Albany Avenue intersection. Instead of stopping to help the injured teenager, the driver sped away from the scene.
Emergency responders transported the young woman to a local hospital in critical condition. She succumbed to her injuries the following day, Tuesday, May 26.
Following her death, traffic investigators shifted their focus to tracking down the fleeing vehicle. Detectives recovered several car parts left behind at the crash site and have successfully matched them to a 2013-2016 Toyota RAV4.
The Tampa Police Department is now turning to the local community for help. They are asking anyone who was near the intersection of W. Waters Ave. and N. Albany Ave. around 10:00 p.m. on Monday night to come forward if they saw anything unusual.
Additionally, investigators are urging nearby residents and business owners to review their security and surveillance camera footage from Monday night. Officials noted that even a seemingly minor detail or a quick glimpse of a vehicle on camera could help detectives identify the driver and find closure for the victim’s family.
The investigation into the crash is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Tampa Police Department directly at 813-231-6130 and reference case report number 26-309099.
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