Man in wheelchair hospitalized after hit-and-run; search on for driver

Police are searching for the driver in a serious hit-and-run crash that sent a wheelchair-bound man to the hospital Wednesday night.

The crash occurred at 10:08 p.m., when an unknown vehicle struck a pedestrian crossing the street in a wheelchair at the intersection of 34th Street North and 13th Avenue North in St. Petersburg.

According to police, the man began crossing the street in his wheelchair in the crosswalk while the light was red, but he hadn’t finished crossing when the light turned green. That’s when the suspect vehicle failed to yield, and struck the man.

Police say the pedestrian was thrown from his wheelchair and onto the roadway. The suspect vehicle did not stop and fled the scene.

The man was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The suspect vehicle is described as a four-door sedan, possibly silver in color. The car should have front end damage.

Anyone with information should call the St. Petersburg Police Department at (727) 893-7780.