LAKELAND, Fla. – A 23-year-old Lakeland man has been arrested following a hit-and-run crash that left a pedestrian with critical injuries. The incident occurred late Monday night on US Highway 98 North.
According to the Lakeland Police Department, Jason Jules was driving a 2016 blue Toyota sedan southbound on US 98 North at a high rate of speed when he struck a pedestrian, 32-year-old Harry Jones of Auburndale, who was attempting to cross the highway outside of a marked crosswalk.
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After the collision, Jules continued driving, eventually stopping on Griffin Road, where he fled the scene on foot.
Emergency responders arrived at the crash site and administered life-saving measures to Jones, who was transported to Lakeland Regional Health with critical injuries.
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Jules returned to the scene 44 minutes later with family members and was arrested for Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Serious Bodily Injury.
The Lakeland Police Department’s Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating the crash. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Officer Travis Payne at travis.payne@lakelandgov.net.
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