HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – A 34-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with a deadly hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of an 82-year-old man in Hillsborough County last week.
The collision happened just after midnight on July 26, 2026. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, 911 dispatchers received a call at 12:26 a.m. regarding a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian at the intersection of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and North 43rd Street.
When deputies arrived, they found 82-year-old Francisco Lugo unresponsive. They immediately started lifesaving measures to help him. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue arrived shortly after, but Lugo was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives determined that Lugo was walking through the intersection with his walker when he was struck by a dark-colored Kia Sorento traveling north. Authorities said the driver drove away without stopping to help the victim or report the collision.
Following an investigation, detectives tracked down the vehicle and identified Danielle Grant, 34, as the driver at the time of the crash. Investigators then secured a warrant charging Grant with leaving the scene of a crash involving death. On July 30, 2026, Grant turned herself in at the Orient Road Jail.
“Leaving the scene after taking someone’s life isn’t an accident, it’s a choice, and it’s a crime,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Our detectives worked tirelessly to track down the person responsible, and this arrest makes it clear: if you break the law and endanger this community, we will find you and hold you accountable. We hope this arrest brings Mr. Lugo’s family some measure of justice as they grieve this devastating loss.”
The sheriff’s office stated that the investigation remains active.
READ: Unmanned Aircraft Crash On Cemex Property Triggers Emergency Response In Brooksville
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
