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Police look for driver that hit a bicyclist in St. Petersburg, possible vehicle impounded

Police look for hit and run driver
Posted at 6:22 PM, Oct 15, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-16 10:17:53-04

Police are looking for the driver of a vehicle that hit a 23-year-old bicyclist leaving him critically injured. It happened around 8:45 p.m. Saturday night.

Connor Bolton was biking eastbound near the 4200 block of 1st Avenue North in St. Petersburg. Police say he was going against the flow of traffic eastbound when he was struck head-on by a vehicle.

The vehicle stopped for moment, then fled the scene going westbound on 1st Avenue North.

Bolton was transported to Bayfront Heath in St. Petersburg. His mother says his vital signs are good, but he does have a breathing tube and remains unconscious after the accident. 

Police say they received a tip about a possible vehicle involved in the hit and run and impounded a 1998 red Chevrolet Tahoe and it is under investigation. Police have not arrested anyone at this time. 

Bolton’s mother is asking for help from the public to track down the driver who hit her son.

“Northing’s worse than what they did, which was leaving the scene and leaving somebody in the middle of the road, with life threatening injuries,” Martha Bolton said. “Left him in the middle of the road, not knowing whether they had killed him or not and didn’t care.”

Martha said her son was headed to Sundial to see a movie, riding in the bike lane on 1st Ave N. with proper lights. She said Bolton loves biking and gardening. She said he is a student at St. Petersburg College and is engaged to be married. Now, all of those life plans are on hold.

“This is going to have a dramatic effect on his life but right now in the short term just much more concerned about getting him through this trauma period he’s still in the intensive care unit,” Martha Bolton said.

She did feel hope when her son squeezed her hand.

“It was such a relief and just knowing that he could hear me if he can hear the command he can also hear the good things we’re saying just we’re here, we miss you, and you’re going to be fine,” she said.

Police describe the vehicle as red or burgundy on color, possibly a General  Motors truck or S.U.V.  The vehicle may have damage to the front end and possibly to the hood and windshield.

Anyone with information on the vehicle is urged to contact the St. Petersburg Police department at 727-893-7780.