by PAT RAIA, [email protected]
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) hopes that the public can help them find two men who crashed their car on I-75 in Hernando County, then carjacked at gunpoint a pair of Good Samaritans who stopped to help them.
According to FHP Spokesman Sgt. Steve Gaskins at 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 21, Troopers responded to a report of a hit and run crash along the southbound lanes of I-75 at milepost 296 in Hernando County.
The crash occurred when the driver lost control of his vehicle which then collided with a barrier wall and came to a final stop in the center southbound lane of I-75.
At the scene, Troopers learned that a pair of Good Samaritans who were traveling southbound had stopped to help the driver of the crashed vehicle and his passenger. When they did, the pair were confronted by two shotgun-wielding men, one African-American the other Hispanic, who forced themselves into the Samaritans’ car and then at gunpoint forced them to drive them to 138th Avenue and 19th Street in Tampa, Florida.
Released unhurt by the carjackers, the victims went to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s District Office and reported the incident.
According to Gaskins, the victims told investigators that the carjackers had gotten lost after leaving an undisclosed location in Lakeland, Fl. He did not comment further.
While the search continues, anyone with information about the incident or about the suspects should call the FHP at 813-558-1800, or the Tampa Bay Crime Stoppers at 800-873-TIPS (8477), or text *FHP.
