ORANGE PARK, Fla. – In Florida, over 100,000 hit-and-run crashes happened just last year.
That number was a 1% decrease from 2022.
Don Andersen became a victim of a hit-and-run crash on Oct. 24.
He was driving on Interstate 295 near where the highway meets Interstate 95 and Old St. Augustine Road when a red truck side-swiped him.
He tried to get the driver to pull over, but they kept driving.
“Trying to just feel normal is tough,” Andersen said.
Hit-and-run crashes in 2023 resulted in 271 fatalities and 871 serious bodily injuries, according to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Andersen was left with a concussion and a rotator cuff injury from the crash. He said it could have been much worse, but the effects still left him shaken.
“You’re always looking over your shoulder when you’re driving again because you don’t want it to happen to you again,” he said. “So getting a good night sleep is very difficult.”
Andersen was able to capture an image of the red truck that hit him. Unfortunately, law enforcement can’t make out a license plate, so the driver is still free.
“It’s extremely difficult,” News4JAX Crime and Safety Analyst Tom Hackney said. “It is one of the investigations that take a lot to be successful and a lot to work through to hold somebody responsible for one of those hit-and-runs.”
Oftentimes, these incidents happen when the sun goes down. But even in broad daylight, it’s hard to catch.
“He did it in front of everybody,” Andersen said.
Hackney said an inexpensive dashcam that can capture both the front and the back of the car can go a long way. In the case of a crash, it may be able to pick up a license plate or even a driver.
But Hackney said you should not try and chase a fleeing driver.
“You have to think ‘OK, why did they hit-and-run?’” Hackney said. “Do you know that they have a good license? Do they have insurance? Probably not. And those are contributing factors to it so trying to confront a driver over that is just a losing proposition. Your life isn’t worth your deductible.”
Despite the odds, Andersen said he still hopes to catch the person who hit him.
He also had $5,000 worth of damages left on his car.
“I' don’t have the 51 hundred dollars to fix it,” Andersen said.
He said the thought of that day keeps him up at night.
“Am I going to catch this guy?” Andersen said. “Am I going to get better? Is this gonna go away? Is this going to continue and so far it hasn’t gone away so as you get older and you get wrecked like that it’s harder to overcome it. I’m no spring chicken anymore. Mentally I think that but physically has not happening.”
If you have information on a hit-and-run crash, you can report it by calling FHP (*347) or report it anonymously to Florida Crime Stoppers by calling 866-845-TIPS.