Billboard used to seek driver in fatal hit-run

By MICHAEL A. MOHAMMED
Published July 13, 2007

TAMPA - More than four months after a hit-and-run driver killed 28-year-old Christine Hodill, her parents still long for answers.

Today, Virginia and Steven Cornelius will unveil a billboard at Kennedy Boulevard and Arrawana Avenue to advertise a $5,000 reward for tips leading to the driver's arrest.

"This person has talked to somebody, and they've talked to somebody, and one of those somebodies needs to come forward so we can have some closure," said Steven Cornelius, who married Hodill's mother when Hodill was 3.

The car struck her Feb. 28 as she crossed Cleveland Street at Moody Avenue in South Tampa during her short walk home from MacDinton's Pub. She had been celebrating a successful fundraiser for Tampa's Police Athletic League.

Hodill's death devastated the scores of people she introduced to the World Adult Kickball League. She organized twice-weekly games of the raucous yet casual sport.

Cornelius, 48, remembers his stepdaughter as an athletic, independent woman.

When she bought her first car, at 26, she did it on her own.

"She called to tell us about it - not to get approval," he said. "I admire that in her, that she had that kind of strength.

Hodill never drove if she knew she would be drinking, Cornelius said. Her autopsy report showed the equivalent of a 0.21 percent blood alcohol level. That would have been illegal for a driver, but she was on foot.

No one could say whether the driver who killed her was intoxicated. But Cornelius knows it was 2:30 a.m. He counted 150 bars within 10 miles.

Hodill was in a crosswalk when she was struck, her stepfather says.

Cornelius understands that accidents happen.

"If the other person was intoxicated, in a dark green or black car - there was no mention of whether they had headlights on or not, let's say they didn't - and she doesn't hear so good, and she's intoxicated ... do I understand how she got hit? Yes, I do."

But he blames the driver for not stopping to help. He hopes the driver sees the billboard.

"I hope this person is from Tampa and has to drive by it every damn day," he said.

Michael A. Mohammed can be reached at mmohammed@sptimes.com or 813 226-3404.

How to help

Got a tip?

Anyone with information about the Feb. 28 accident that killed Christine Hodill is asked to call Tampa police at 813-231-6130.

[Last modified July 13, 2007, 00:22:10]