Man dies of injuries in hit-run case

TAMPA -- Justin Willis, a 19-year-old father and tow truck driver, died Monday from injuries he suffered when he was hit on I-275 as he was directing traffic away from another crash.

The driver of the truck that hit Willis fled the scene and has not been found.

For Willis' family, the pain is magnified because he is the second man in his family to die this month in a hit-and-run crash.

The parallels between Willis' death and that of his cousin, Brian Willis, are eerie.

Both men were struck by red trucks that fled the crash scene. Neither died immediately: Brian suffered from his injuries for more than a month, and Justin died three days after he was struck. Both men died at Tampa General Hospital.

And in both cases, authorities have not found the drivers who hit them.

"It's beyond chance that this would happen," said Elizabeth Willis Singer of New Port Richey, Justin's aunt and Brian's cousin. "They were both good people, hard-working men. . . .

"It's not right. These people need to get a conscience. They destroyed two families."

Brian Willis, an ex-Marine, was struck on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, as he rode a motorcycle in Homosassa on U.S. 19. Authorities say he was struck by a red Ford pickup that was weaving in and out of traffic. He was not wearing a helmet.

Brian Willis, 46, lived in Dunnellon and was buried Saturday. He had one son.

Justin Willis was struck early Friday morning. He towed disabled cars off the highways and directed traffic away from crashes. He was struck by a red or maroon Nissan pickup as he placed cones on the road.

Justin Willis leaves behind a wife and a 2-year-old son. He had recently transferred to the night shift so he could enroll in school, in hopes of becoming a Florida Highway Patrol trooper.

"It just don't make sense," said Elmer Willis, 64, father of Brian and grand-uncle of Justin. "What else can happen?"

-- Researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report.

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