SARASOTA, Fla. — Data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shows hit-and-run crash numbers are dropping, but experts say the totals remain high and lawmakers could do more to help track down potential suspects.
Since 2017, data uncovered by Spectrum News reveals six-figure averages for hit-and-run crashes across Florida.
In 2022, 13-year-old Lilly Glaubach was killed in a hit-and-run crash. Since then, her family has pushed state legislators for change.
A proposed Lilly Glaubach Act was filed in the Florida Senate last year but died in committee.
Lilly’s family has fought for the cause since 2022, when she was struck and killed. Her final text to her mom read, “I’m on my way home… I love you.”
“It was sidewalks the whole way and one road, a two-way road, that she had to cross,” said Lilly’s mom, Sarah Alexander. “I texted her like, ‘Are you home yet?’ and I get a response that, ‘This is Officer Franks. Please call this number immediately.’”
While other children walked home from school, Lilly was hit by a sedan, and the driver sped off.
Crime scene photos released by the 12th Circuit State Attorney’s Office show how violent the crash was. Lilly was airlifted from Sarasota to a St. Petersburg hospital, where she died 12 days later.
“When they were bringing her down, to where she eventually passed, both sides of the aisle were lined by every nurse, just paying respect to her and her family,” said Paul Alexander, Lilly’s stepfather.
In 2022, data obtained by Spectrum News shows Lilly’s case was one of more than 107,000 hit-and-run incidents across Florida. Records dating back to 2017 show the state averages more than 100,000 hit-and-run crashes each year.
Sgt. Steve Gaskins with the Florida Highway Patrol says that in 2024 and this year, troopers are seeing a downward trend. Still, he admits the numbers remain high.
“People are taking it more seriously now because our state lawmakers, a few years back if you recall, they bumped up the penalties, especially for serious injury or fatality crashes where you’re looking at a minimum mandatory of four years in prison,” Gaskins said.
State law also requires a three-year license revocation, a felony charge, and a hefty fine. But some believe lawmakers should take additional steps.
“We’ve had over 20,000 people that’ve been injured, close to 300 people killed last year, 100,000 hit-and-run accidents. But when we look at the number of people cited annually, it’s a small number, we’re talking 13,000,” said 12th Circuit State Attorney Ed Brodsky.
Brodsky is working to bring that number up. His office handled Lilly’s case.
With no leads, he says investigators didn’t know if they’d ever find the suspect—until a Good Samaritan spotted a damaged vehicle.
According to Brodsky, the suspect drove from Sarasota three counties north to Tampa to repair his car at an autobody shop. Without that photo, he says the driver may never have been found.
Using the picture, FHP identified the driver as David Chang, a neighbor of Lilly’s family.
Chang was convicted of leaving the scene of a crash involving death and obstructing an investigation. He was sentenced to 20 years in a Florida prison.
“If he had just done the right thing, it would’ve been hard, but no one would’ve been searching. It would’ve been—our pain would’ve been lessened tenfold,” said Paul Alexander.
That’s why Lilly’s family and Brodsky’s office worked with State Sen. Joe Gruters, R-District 22, to propose the Lilly Glaubach Act last year.
“Law enforcement would be able to look at a database of vehicles that have gone to a body shop, let’s say it’s a black Mercedes with front windshield damage, it would give them an investigative lead to see if that could help them solve that case,” Brodsky said.
The bill ultimately died in committee during the last legislative session.
For now, Paul and Sarah continue fighting for Lilly and pushing for change.
Spectrum News reached out to Gruters to see if he or any other legislator plans to refile the Lilly Glaubach Act in the upcoming session. There has been no response so far.
This article has been carefully fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and eliminate any misleading information. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in our content.
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