A University of Central Florida senior is fighting for her life at an Orlando hospital after she was injured in a hit-and-run crash near the campus, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The driver, Yousuf Hasan, 25, appeared in court Sunday on several charges, including driving while under the influence resulting in serious bodily harm and leaving the scene of an accident.
Investigators said London Harrell, 21, of Orlando, was struck Saturday morning on Napiers Circle and Pasteur Drive near UCF.
FHP said when troopers arrived at the scene, Hasan was gone. Investigators said Hasan hit a car on Mendel Drive and left the scene, prior to hitting the woman.
"Orange County Sheriff’s Office located a black Acura at 11850 University Boulevard with damage to the front of the vehicle, consistent with the first traffic crash, and damage to the windshield with blood and hair matching the hair color of the pedestrian at the second traffic crash," according to an incident report.
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ORLANDO, Fla. — Troopers said they found Hasan sleeping behind the car in a parking lot on University Boulevard.
The victim’s father said his daughter might not survive.
"She is currently being kept alive by a respirator and is in a coma. Her survival does not appear likely, and if that occurs, we are informed that this case will become a homicide,” her father said.
Troopers said Hasan had bloodshot, glassy eyes, slurred speech and was stumbling and swaying while walking to the breath testing room. They said Hasan failed field sobriety tests, but his Breathalyzer tests resulted in .000.
FHP officials said they believe Hasan was under the influence of drugs.
Orange County Fire Rescue gave Hasan a blood test. Those results have not been released.
A report from the Orange County Sheriff's Office said Hasan told authorities that he "didn't leave the scene. I went to help. I was less than a quarter mile at the Wawa."
The woman's father asked a judge Sunday to deny Hasan bail, but the judge said since the charges are neither capital offenses nor are punishable by life in prison, Hasan was entitled to bail.
Hasan's bail was set at just under $12,000.
He apologized to the victim's family several times while leaving jail Monday afternoon.
"Deeply, I'm sorry," he told Channel 9 reporter Steve Barrett. "I wish I could take everything back, and I hope they forgive me in their heart."
Hasan said he was unaware of the crash.
"I was intoxicated," he said. "I was not aware. And the minute I found out I actually hit somebody, I went back to the scene. I didn't go even 100 feet away from the scene."
The crash remains under investigation.
Cox Media Group
