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NewsFOX 13 Tampa BayAugust 26, 2026Hillsborough

Tampa Police and Florida Highway Patrol arrest two teens following I-275 hit-and-run spree

Two teenagers were taken into custody Wednesday morning after allegedly driving a stolen vehicle through four separate hit-and-run crashes on Interstate 275. The suspects fled on foot after their vehicle became disabled near mile marker 55, leading to a search operation by Tampa police and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

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Read the full story at FOX 13 Tampa Bay

Why It Matters

The incident caused significant traffic disruption on a major regional artery and highlights ongoing issues regarding vehicle theft and reckless driving in the Tampa Bay area.

Key Facts

  • Two teenagers, aged 16 and 17, were arrested following a series of hit-and-run crashes.
  • The suspects were driving a white Kia Soul that had been reported stolen out of Pasco County.
  • The vehicle was involved in four separate hit-and-run crashes along I-275.
  • The crashes occurred between Armenia Avenue and mile marker 55 near Lutz.
  • The vehicle's ignition had been punched out, indicating theft.
  • The incident began when police attempted a traffic stop near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
  • The suspects fled on foot after the vehicle became disabled from the crashes.
  • Tampa Police and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office conducted a joint search to locate the suspects.

Who's Mentioned

locationPasco County“Origin of the stolen vehicle”organizationHillsborough County Sheriff's Office“Assisted in setting up search perimeter”other55“Mile marker where the vehicle became disabled”organizationTampa Police Department“Initiated traffic stop and participated in search”other17“Age of one suspect”locationI-275“Site of the hit-and-run crashes”organizationFlorida Highway Patrol“Investigating the hit-and-run crashes”other16“Age of one suspect”