Pedestrian, 82, Dies After Being Struck Twice, Police Say
An elderly woman was killed after being hit by two vehicles in the 12900 block of Seminole Boulevard Sunday evening, according to police.
An elderly woman died after being hit by two vehicles around 7:15 p.m. Sunday evening on Seminole Boulevard.
The 82-year-old woman, Margaret Wix, crossed 12945 Seminole Boulevard in the center northbound lane. She was hit by a passenger car, then struck by a second vehicle that reportedly fled the scene, according to Lt. Mike Loux of the Largo Police Department.
The driver of the second vehicle, Neil David Habgood, 31, of St. Petersburg, returned to the scene of the accident about an hour later, Loux said.
Habgood was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death. Habgood "did not give his name and address and the registration number of the vehicle he was driving and did not render reasonable assistance to persons injured in the crash," according to an arrest affidavit.
Habgood was released from Pinellas County Jail on $10,000 surety bond on Nov. 5, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
Additional information about the accident was not available.
maria
1:00 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
This man who got arrested should not have been given a bail.
The first car that did hit her stayed and did the right thing.
Ms.Wixs' who was hit was a customer at McDonald on a regular basis.
She would come in and order her food and talk to whom ever would take the time to hear what she had to say. She was a lonely lady who always wore a smile upon her face.
Yes, Ms. Wix was a very strong person who not too long ago lost her first dog to someone running over the dog..yes, right there on Seminole Blvd as so she did.
Ms. Wix was very depressed about the lost of the dog, but she went and adopted herself another dog. who by the way I pray is found and safe.
Ms. Wix I will and do miss your physical smile, but I will always carry your spiritual smile with me..
Sheri Brown
5:24 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Hi, My name is Sheri and I work at the Animal Hospital of Seminole. A man brought in a dog on Monday he found with it's leash still attatched to the collar. We did a scan for a microchip number and found that Ms. Wix was the owner of the dog. The phone number attatched to the dog was disconnected but when we did a search for her name in the Seminole area we found this article. We don't know her but are shocked and sad to hear that she has passed away. The dog is here and safe. We're trying to contact any possible family members of Ms. Wix. Please call our office if you have any futher details. 727-393-3102
maria
6:12 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Sheri Brown,
I am so happy to hear that her dog is found safe..I will call the number later today.
Geo
5:43 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
I understand you are speaking from an emotional standpoint. From a logical standpoint, 10,000 is a very fair bail amount. Yes the man fled but he came back. Should he be convicted? That is for the courts to decide. We do not know all the facts. Maybe he did not realize he hit a woman until later. Maybe he suffers from some sort of mental condition you do not know about. etc. etc. etc. It is obvious he is not a flight risk, due to the fact he came back. I would trust our legal system and if the man is guilty then he will serve an appropriate sentence , according to our legal system.
maria
6:42 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Ref.. I indeed only pray that the sysem does look at all ends. But as well the city of Largo needs to put more lights out in that area. It is way too dark at night and they as well need to fix that light on the corner of where McDonalds and Seminole Blvd is at. After a certain time at night it blinks red only and its dangerous.
More lights on the city of Largo and fix that red light.....
Leroy A Haggard
9:00 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
How many more deaths have to take place before any action is taken other than
playing the blame game. That is an extremely dangerous corner to cross. A lot of talk but no action.
BjG
10:29 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
I very much agree to the need for more lights along Seminole blvd., we waste our manpower and dollars on dumb things like paving side roads and other updates.....when the real problem Is right there. I alone can remember 6 deaths in that stretch in the past yr. which one was a close friend. It's starting to become a city negligence as well as drivers.... How can this be fixed because this is a huge discrace on the city of largo as well... NOTHING has been done to improve just slap a new money maker on the corner and call it a day....? Don't worry about the ones who keep them in business and don't drive. I myself drive and I know that at one time we all have been pedestrians in some where or another. I pray that the city will have enough sence to study some improvements. Ad don't sit there and say, o, well that's out of out jurisdiction... Get with that jurisdiction then an make a change. Y'all wanna be first responders and have ur name on the article then lets make a change.
jay
10:46 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
There are 2 sides to every story. T he man was freaked out and parked across the street panicked and crying before he went back to the seen. He didnt hit someone standing up it wAs someone laying on the floor. that had already been hit.Anyone of us could have done that with the light problems there at night. Until it happens to you You shouldnt pass judgement. That is a sad thing to happen and I hope you are never put in that position
Resa
2:29 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Or perhaps he returned because his entire bumper was left at the scene.....I arrived on the scene literally 15 seconds after the accident. I was traveling northbound, saw a van parked diagnal - driver hopped out and flagged ppl to move over, as I drove past the van, the woman's limp body (which I will never forget) was in the road, as well as a large dark colored bumper. The first car still had bumper in tact, so I am only left to assume it was from the 2nd drivers Ford Escape. Regardless of who was at fault, or what happened, it was a scene I will never forget. LIGHTING is a HUGE FACTOR in this case and can't agree more with the other comments posted. Something needs to be done to get more lights up in this area. Too many accidents, some including deaths, occur on this stretch. PLEASE add more lighting!!!
Sean McQuaid
4:30 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
My name is Sean McQuaid. I am a lawyer at Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & Wein, PA and I represent Mr. Habgood. I have reviewed some of the previous comments and it appears that some of you may have witnessed Mr. Habgood on scene and/or only a short distance away from the accident scene during the investigation. We are attempting to confirm this with anyone who was present. If you are a witness, I would certainly like to speak to you. Please contact me at (727)381-2300. Thank you.
<3
11:38 am on Thursday, November 8, 2012
Please do not vilify Neil for this horrible accident. While he is responsible for the way he reacted, please take into account that he was not responsible for this woman lying in the road. He did not put her there and certainly did not intend to hit her. It's easy for one to say how they would react in this situation but you will never know how your mind will handle that trauma until it happens. The unfortunate truth is that even if he had stopped immediately as the first driver did, the outcome would have been the same. Believe that he will live with this weight for the rest of his life. My heart and prayers go out to all of the families involved.
janice
7:02 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
As the daughter of ms wix, i would also like to know if there were any witnesses to this tragic wrongful death. If you have not done so, please contact the largo police dept and they will update me with any additional information. Thank you for your prayers during this difficult time.
Jason Bartolone
7:22 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
In case you missed it, here is a follow-up story on Ms. Wix's dog and its reunion with her family: http://largo.patch.com/articles/lost-dog-reunited-with-deceased-woman-s-family