Good Samaritan injured, 1 dead in double hit-and-run crashes

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Within a minute, two hit-and-runs occurred back-to-back, killing one person and injuring a man who had stopped to help her, deputies said. They are still searching for one of the two hit-and-run drivers. 

Around 2:20 a.m. Thursday, 40-year-old Kellie Marie Black was riding a scooter north on Galloway Road. Just south of Kathleen Road, deputies say, she was hit by a vehicle driven by 20-year-old Corey Wesley Jones, a self-proclaimed rapper known as "D.B. da Kid."

He turned himself in Thursday afternoon and faces charges of leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury and reckless driving with serious bodily injury. The Polk County Sheriff's Office said the charges could change after results are in from Black's autopsy.

Polk County Sheriff's Grady Judd said at a Thursday morning press conference, "[Jones] made a statement that he knew he had hit something."

Two good Samaritans, Markell Grant and 20-year-old Kalen Lawson, pulled off on the side of the road to help Black.  Lawson is an active duty member with the U.S. Army and is stationed in Fort Hood, but is from Lakeland, Judd explained.

As they were helping, a second vehicle traveling northbound struck Lawson, along with the original crash victim, the sheriff said. The second hit-and-run vehicle is believed to be a white or light-colored Ford F-150 pick-up truck, however, deputies say it could be another make or model pick-up truck.

Judd said he is asking the community to step up and identify the vehicle, or the driver.

“Turn yourself in," Judd said. "You ran over and killed one lady and you left a military person - a hero -- in the road also. He did what you should’ve been doing. Now, turn yourself in, or you’re going to hide until we dig you out? We will find you.”

Judd said Lawson has a "nasty" compound fracture to his leg but is expected to survive. He is recovering at Lakeland Regional Hospital.

"We appreciate Kalen and Markell. We're sorry that he is injured," Judd said.

Anyone with information on the hit-and-run vehicles or drivers are asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-8477 or online at heartlandcrimestoppers.com.