Tampa Republic

On November 19, 2024, at approximately 2:55 a.m., Tampa Police responded to a fatal hit and run incident. The officers found an adult black male in his early 40s who had been struck by a vehicle near N. Orient Rd. and E. 8th Ave. He succumbed to the injuries sustained in the crash.

Investigators quickly gathered video footage of the suspect vehicle and shared it with the community to generate tips. They also recovered parts at the scene that identified the vehicle as a 2014 Nissan Titan pickup truck.

Following leads, investigators located the suspect truck at 4504 Summersun Ct. The vehicle showed damage consistent with the crash dynamics, and parts recovered from the scene matched missing parts from this vehicle. Additional evidence confirmed its involvement in the hit-and-run fatality.

The owner of the vehicle was identified as Manuel Gonzalez, born on September 23, 1983. Witnesses reported seeing Gonzalez return home in the early morning hours with damage to his Titan truck.

Gonzalez was arrested just after 11 p.m. on November 19 at his home and charged with Leaving the Scene of a Crash Resulting in Death (Vulnerable Road User). He was transported to Orient Road Jail. The Nissan Titan pickup truck was impounded as evidence.