Leads few as police seek hit-run driver
A white or silver vehicle hit a pedestrian Wednesday on West Bay Drive. Police hope any witnesses will step up.
By JACOB H. FRIES
Published July 29, 2005
LARGO - Investigators continued to search Thursday for the driver of a car that struck and killed a 50-year-old man as he walked along West Bay Drive.
So far, Largo police have few clues. Witnesses described the car that hit Randolph J. Graham on Wednesday night as a white or silver mid size vehicle that sustained damage to its right front end and windshield. It was last seen going east on West Bay Drive near 12th Street SW.
"We're trying to identify a needle in the haystack," Officer Jim Hartwell said. "Anybody that witnessed this incident, we'd like to be able to speak with them. . . . We're trying to put the pieces of the puzzle back together."
According to police, Graham was walking his bicycle east in the middle of the curb lane about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. It was unclear where he was headed or whether he was trying to cross the street.
One car swerved, narrowly missing Graham, who began to shout and wave his fists at the driver, witnesses told police. Then the white or silver car crashed into him.
Paramedics pronounced Graham dead at the scene, making him the city's fourth traffic fatality this year. An autopsy, including toxicology tests, will be performed.
Graham's family could not be reached Thursday.
Earlier this year, a 47-year-old man in Clearwater was killed under similar circumstances. Pat McMahon was walking alone across the 2900 block of Gulf-to-Bay on Jan. 31 when he was hit in the middle of three eastbound lanes, police have said.
The 2002 Toyota Tacoma that hit him did not stop.
Police later found it abandoned on Whitney Road. Inside was Candice Angela Hannon's driver's license, according to police.
Hannon, 23, of St. Petersburg eluded arrest for more than five months until she turned herself in to authorities earlier this month. She faces a felony charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving death.
Anyone with information about Wednesday's fatal hit-and-run crash is asked to call Largo police at 587-6730.
Jacob H. Fries can be reached at 445-4156 or jfries@sptimes.com