Tampa Police Arrest Suspect in Fatal Hit-and-Run on N. Orient Rd.

Police have made an arrest in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that happened early yesterday morning, casting a dark shadow over Tampa. According to the City of Tampa website, an adult black man in his early 40s was killed by his injuries after being hit by a car close to N. Orient Rd. and E. 8th Ave.

Following the tragedy, Tampa Police responded to the scene of the collision at approximately 2:55 a.m., promptly gathering video surveillance to disseminate throughout the community in the hopes of obtaining important information about the suspect’s vehicle, a 2014 Nissan Titan pickup truck. In addition, thorough investigators found pieces at the crash site that helped identify the vehicle.

With perseverance, detectives followed the trail of evidence and community tips to 4504 Summersun Ct., the suspect truck’s resting place. There, they found evidence of the truck’s horrific role in the young man’s death, including pieces connecting missing parts of the vehicle to those found on the ground where the man’s death was reported and damage matching the scene.

After more investigation, it was determined that Manuel Gonzalez, a Hispanic man born on September 23, 1983, was the only person with access to and was the driver of the Nissan Titan. Several witnesses reported seeing Gonzalez driving home early in the morning with his car showing new injuries from the previous night’s events. Gonzalez was arrested shortly after 11 p.m. that same day and charged with Leaving the Scene of a Crash Resulting in Death (Vulnerable Road User). He was then taken to Orient Road Jail, and his pickup truck was confiscated.

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