TAMPA, Fla. — A 33-year-old father of five is recovering from brain surgery after a driver hit him and left him to die on the road. Now, troopers are asking for your help to find that hit-and-run driver.
The incident happened around 12:18 Sunday morning just north of 131st Street and Nebraska Avenue. Troopers say Mitchell L. Cribbs Jr. was crossing the street when a white sedan hit him, then took off.
“We were coming back from a Christmas party, we had stopped for a minute,” said Tabitha Grimes, the victim’s girlfriend.
Once they stopped, Grimes said Mitchell stepped out of the car and crossed Nebraska Avenue
“As he came back he got hit by a car and they just took off,” said Grimes.
Grimes said Mitchell was knocked unconscious, then rushed to the hospital shortly after 12:30 Sunday morning.
“He’s in serious condition, unresponsive in ICU. He was rushed into surgery this morning,” said Grimes.
Grimes said another person saw it all happen and stopped to help. She said through surveillance footage troopers got from a nearby building, they were able to identify the vehicle as a white sedan. That surveillance footage has not been released.
“The car is more than likely gonna have damage to the front and the windshield,” said Grimes.
Now Grimes is begging the driver of that vehicle to speak up.
“Just do the right thing. Come forward. You hurt somebody. Do the right thing. You would want somebody to come forward if they did that to your family,” said Grimes.
If you have any information regarding that accident Sunday morning or the whereabouts of the vehicle, you are asked to contact FHP at 813-873-8477, or Crime Stoppers at 800-873-8477.
