"Quit cowering and hiding like a coward," said the woman's husband Harold, pleading with the driver to own up to his crime.
Kelly Hagen, a 59-year-old woman, was crossing the road in Winter Haven on the night of December 4, 2022, on North Lake Howard Drive, when she was struck by a car, just before 7 pm. Kelly passed away on the spot, and according to troopers, the driver who struck her after the incident fled the scene, per Fox11.
Kelly's husband Harold Hagan revealed that he was there when the incident occurred, stating that she was hanging out with some friends and was en route to the Christmas boat parade in Winter Haven. “That car had to have been going 60 miles per hour and it hit her so hard it knocked her out of her shoes," he said. Now, the grief-stricken husband is pleading with the driver who fled the scene to come up and own up to his crime. "Quit cowering and hiding like a coward," said Harold.
Investigators with the Florida Highway Patrol admit that they don't have much to go on except for the description of the vehicle that Kelly may have been hit by a silver Dodge Caliber with Virginia license plates. "She didn’t deserve to be hit and run over," said Harold. "The guy (or woman) didn’t even attempt to stop. There were no skid marks or nothing."
Debbie Mason, one of Kelly's closest friends, is still in shock and horror after the accident. "I can’t fathom somebody hitting someone, and just keep going," said Mason. "I can’t fathom that she is gone. I just feel like I am walking through a nightmare, and somebody should wake me up."
Kelly's tragic death just comes months after she lost her son Andrew, age 29, in June 2022, said Kelly's daughter, Ashley Grabowski. “She had so many things to continue doing and she was so happy and to just take that from somebody, it's not fair," Ashley said to WTSP. “She did a lot growing up, she would pretty much take in any kid that needed a meal or a roof over their head," Grabowski said.
Grabowski describes Kelly as a wonderful person in a GoFundMe set up by the family. "Kelly (mom) was a fun-loving woman and had a huge impact on everyone she encountered. She had a way about making you feel welcome and at home when you were with her. Let’s come together to send her on her last adventure," she wrote, encouraging people to help the family in this time of necessity.
RIP 🙏 Kelly Hagan, 59, was hit and killed crossing the road in Winter Haven on Sunday night on North Lake Howard Drive. State troopers are still searching for the driver responsible. https://t.co/Y667du2Fvf
— 10 Tampa Bay (@10TampaBay) December 6, 2022
The family needs help "covering funeral expenses, bills to take the stress off her husband, and to give her the celebration of life she deserves," and "anything helps and we truly appreciate it." In addition to this, the family and the Florida troopers ask that anyone with information call CrimeStoppers or the Florida Highway Patrol.
References:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/kelly-hagens-last-adventure
Cover Image Source: GoFundMe
