Cops search for driver in Apopka hit-and-run crash

Woman transported as trauma alert

APOPKA, Fla. – Investigators are searching for a group of men seen running from a car involved in a brutal hit-and-run crash Thursday evening.

Florida Highway Patrol investigators said the crash happened at approximately 5 p.m. at the corner of 13th Street and Hawthorne Avenue.

Witnesses told News 6 that a blue Mitsubishi was traveling at a high rate of speed and blew through a stop sign, hitting a tan Chevrolet that was driven by Cynthia Pinder, 59.

The crash happened a few blocks away from Pinder's home.

Cynthia's son, J. Pinder, got the call when he was at work.

"Your heart goes racing. You just want to know what happened. What's the extent of the accident? You don't know," J. Pinder said.

Orange County Fire Rescue had to cut Pinder out of her car. They transported her to Orlando Regional Medical Center as a trauma alert.

J. says his mom was released from the hospital Thursday evening, but she may have to go back.

"It's hard for her to move around and walk and stuff and just her hand, her wrist and stuff still hurt and (are) injured from the wreck," J said.

Witnesses said they saw the people who were inside the Mitsubishi crawl out of the car -- one of them out of the sunroof -- and run away from the crash.

"Three guys jumped in another car and they took off," said Helen Foster, who watched the crash happen from her front yard.

The woman who owns the stolen car reported it missing May 1.

She didn't want to be identified, but told News 6 she learned her car was involved in Thursday's crash through ClickOrlando.com.

"Naturally, I was hoping that the car was okay and that the woman was okay, but my second thought was I hope that they arrested these people," the woman said.

FHP investigators told News 6 that one of the men ended up at the hospital, and he told investigators he didn't know the driver's real name. He said he only knew his street name.

"They don't stop! They never stop!" said Brunilda Laureano, who said she's lived in the neighborhood for 30 years.

She said Thursday's crash is part of a growing problem. She said she's seeing more and more people not stop at the stop signs. She also said the long roads that run through the neighborhood don't have enough stop signs, and they don't have speed bumps, so speed is a real problem.

"Every morning, I pass through that street, and every morning, these people going down this road, they hardly stop at that stop sign, and that's dangerous," she said.

News 6 reached out Thursday night to Orange County Commissioner Bryan Nelson, who represents South Apopka, to ask him if he knew about the speeding problems in the area and to see what he plans to do about it.

"That wasn't on my radar screen. Obviously, it is now," said Commissioner Nelson.

Nelson said he is working with the city to possibly install a light or stop signs on Central Avenue.

The Hawthorne Avenue intersection is more complicated, Nelson said.

It's one of the main streets that runs through a residential area. He said it would be possible to put up a stop sign near the scene of the crash and that residents should contact him to talk more about the issue.

He plans to talk with Orange County Sheriff Demings and the public works department next week to try to get results for residents.

"I would think in the next couple of weeks, we could have some actual items," Commissioner Nelson said.

Investigators are still searching for the remaining occupants of the Mitsubishi.
In the meantime, J. Pinder has a message for the men who are still on the run.

"There are a lot of things that I would say to them. But um, just like I say, it could have been anyone's mom in the car. You know, what if it was yours. How would you have felt," J. said.

 


About the Authors:

Erik Sandoval joined the News 6 team as a reporter in May 2013 and became an Investigator in 2020. During his time at News 6, Erik has covered several major stories, including the 2016 Presidential campaign. He was also one of the first reporters live on the air at the Pulse Nightclub shooting.

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