ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County drivers will notice two new billboards on Friday, both aimed at helping to solve a fatal hit-and-run crash that killed a 19-year-old in April.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Crimeline added the billboards on Orange Avenue to help generate tips to find the car and driver involved in the crash.
Troopers said Anthony Mejias, 19, was struck and killed April 2 at 2:35 a.m. as he walked on Orave Avenue near Prince Street in south Orange County. Investigators said the vehicle, which may be a gray or silver car, fled the scene southbound on Orange Avenue.
“All leads at this time have been exhausted and troopers are asking for the public to contact Crimeline if they know anything about this crash,” troopers said in a news release. “You will remain anonymous and could be eligible for up to a $5,000 reward.”
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Mejias’ mother Vivian Blanco said in a news conference on Friday that even though three months have past it hasn’t made losing her son any easier.
“It’s been three months and it’s not easier to know that my baby is not home and he will never come home,” Blanco said.
She said the driver knows what they did and needs to come forward.
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“You need to confess ... It’s going to bring healing to me, to my baby,” Blanco said. “It’s going to bring healing to that person because they will come clean.”
Tips can be reported to Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.
FHP said it is currently investigating 12 fatal hit-and-run crashes that occurred in Orange County in 2021.
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Statewide, troopers said they have investigated 63 fatal hit-and-run crashes so far this year.
FHP said leaving the scene of a fatal crash is a first-degree felony and is punishable by a mandatory four-year prison sentence and up to 30 years in prison.
