A Fruitland Park hit-and run suspect with a suspended license reportedly “got scared” after a vehicle crash near 7-Eleven.
An officer responded to a vehicle crash near State Road 25 and South Gray’s Airport Road around 7 a.m. Friday, according to an arrest report from the Fruitland Park Police Department.
Upon arrival, the officer met with deputies from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office who advised the driver of a vehicle, later identified as 40-year-old Amanda Carroll Burgess, leaving 7-Eleven, located at 2058 U.S. Hwy. 27/441, entered southbound lanes of State Road 25 and struck another vehicle, the report said.
A witness advised that he saw a white Honda SUV exit the parking lot of 7-Eleven and strike another vehicle before leaving the scene headed southbound on State Road 25. Deputies were able to obtain a tag which gave us the registered owner’s address, the report said.
Officers with FPD and deputies with LSCO went to the registered owner’s address of 4059 Picciola Road Lot 44 in an attempt to make contact. They found the vehicle and spoke to a nearby resident who stated he saw Burgess get out of the vehicle from the driver’s seat. Officers then responded to Lot 89 where Burgess was last seen by witnesses, the report said.
Officers contacted a resident of Lot 89 who said Burgess arrived around 7 a.m. and told him she was in a vehicle accident, got scared and drove away. Burgess returned the vehicle to her mother’s residence at Lot 44 and ran home to Lot 89, the report said.
Burgess was eventually tracked down, and she agreed to answer questions. She advised that she did go to 7-Eleven and purchased some items. She admitted to being the driver of the Honda when the accident occurred but could not recall how it happened, the report said.
As such, one of the officers returned to the 7-Eleven to obtain video footage. It showed Burgess walking into the store, buying some items and leaving the store out of camera view. It also showed a white SUV enter camera view, exit south of the parking lot and strike the other vehicle involved, the report said.
A criminal history check revealed that Burgess had an active warrant out of Sumter County for petty theft (second offense) with a bond of $2,000. A check of her license showed that she only had an ID and several suspensions dating back to 2021, the report said.
Burgess was ultimately placed under arrest and taken to UF Health Leesburg Hospital, located at 600 E. Dixie Avenue, due to complaints of dizziness. Once cleared by medical staff, she was transported to Lake County Jail without incident, the report said.
The Pennsylvania native was charged with driving while license suspended and leaving the scene of a crash with damage. She was released from jail after posting $3,500 bond. A court date was set for April 10.
Burgess has been arrested several times in the past, one of the more recent incidents being in 2023 for drug possession during a traffic stop in Wildwood. She was also jailed for breaking her mother’s finger in 2021 and later in 2021 for violating a no-contact order which mandated she stay away from her mother.
