Times staff
Sunday, December 5, 2010
TAMPA — A hit-and-run driver briefly eluded authorities but was captured just blocks away from the crash early Sunday, police said.
The crash happened around 3:30 a.m. at Zack Street and Florida Avenue.
A Hyundai Elantra driven by Elijah S. Nottingham of Wesley Chapel was going north on Florida Avenue when it ran a red light at the intersection with Zack, police said. A Dodge Avenger driven by Mark Rambaran of Tampa was heading east on Zack and was struck.
The Dodge flipped over, and the Hyundai hit a tree.
Nottingham pulled Rambaran from the wreckage, police said, but then ran away.
But he was caught by police two blocks away and was arrested. Nottingham was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with serious injuries and driving under the influence, police said.
Rambaran was hospitalized, and his condition was upgraded Sunday morning from critical condition to serious condition.