Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Crash Leaves Skateboarder Seriously Injured

A 29-year-old man is fighting for his life after a motorist reportedly struck him and fled the scene, in the southbound lanes of Providence Road, just north of Providence Ridge Boulevard.

The accident occured Dec. 6 at about 12:09 a.m., according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Jonathan Redding, 29, of 1229 Coolidege Drive in Brandon, reportedly suffered "life-threatening injuries and was transported to Tampa General Hosptial."

The Brandon motorist, Ronald Cineas, 29, of 1817 Sterling Palms Court, Apt. 203, was taken into custody and charged with leaving the scene of a crash with serious injury and driving while license suspended.

According to the sheriff's report, Cineas was apprehended after a citizen called the sheriff's office to report seeing someone "covering the damage to the windshield." The eyewitness then gave a description of the suspect.

"The suspect then got on his bicycle and started riding down Providence Ridge Boulevard," according to the report. Spotted and detained by a deputy, Cineas reportedly "admitted to driving the vehicle and striking something on Providence Road."

Cineas reportedly was driving a 1997 Isuzu pick-up truck south on Providence Road when the accident occurred. Cineas was said to be changing lanes, from the right through-lane to the right turn lane, when he struck Redding, who was riding a skateboard in the roadway, "in the area of the bike lane for Providence Road."

"The suspect fled the scene without rendering aid or calling 911," according to the report.