Tragic Hit-and-Run Leaves Young Father Fighting for Life; Lyft Driver Arrested in Connection with Incident
Tampa Mom Desperate for Answers After Son’s Hit-and-Run Leads to Arrest of Lyft Driver
TAMPA, Fla. — A mother’s plea for justice has taken a dramatic turn after her son was left fighting for his life following a hit-and-run incident. On the morning after Thanksgiving, 24-year-old Adrian Caldwell was riding his e-bike along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near Myrtle Hill Memorial Park when tragedy struck.
Caldwell’s mother, Amanda Stigers, reached out to ABC Action News, expressing her anguish and desperation to find the driver responsible. “Why did you leave him?” she questioned. “He’s someone’s son and father, and you just left him. If nobody else would have come along, he would have been dead.”
Stigers learned of her son’s accident when he failed to show up for work. Rushed to the hospital, Caldwell was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and required multiple surgeries. “We have to remind him every day what happened because he doesn’t remember,” Stigers shared, her voice heavy with emotion.
Despite her efforts to get information from the Tampa Police Department, Stigers felt left in the dark. “They haven’t told me nothing,” she lamented. Initially, police reported a lack of evidence, stating there were no surveillance cameras, witnesses, or vehicle debris at the scene.
However, days later, a breakthrough occurred. Police developed a strong lead, leading to the arrest of 27-year-old Taniesha Ashley, a Lyft driver. She faces a felony charge for leaving the scene of a crash that caused serious bodily injury. Court records reveal Ashley has a history of driving violations dating back to 2015, including charges for failing to stop at a red light and driving with a suspended license. She has since been released on bond.
In a statement to ABC Action News, a Lyft spokesperson expressed sympathy for Caldwell and his family, emphasizing that Ashley was not using the Lyft platform at the time of the incident. “We have permanently removed her from the Lyft community,” the spokesperson added.
Caldwell made it home from the hospital just in time for Christmas, but his journey to recovery is far from over. Stigers revealed that her son requires 24-hour care and continues to struggle with memory loss. “How do you tell your son that you’re my world, but somebody else left you on the side of the road? How do you tell a kid that?” she reflected, her heartache palpable.
As the community rallies around the Caldwell family, the hope for justice and healing remains strong. The investigation continues, and Stigers is determined to ensure her son’s story is not forgotten.