Family searches for hit-and-run driver after serious crash on Hart Bridge

A local family is asking for the driver who they say hit them while driving over the Hart Bridge to come forward after a fun family outing took a tragic turn.

“She’s lucky to be alive,” said Mike Babb.

His family was driving over the Hart Bridge on Sunday evening when they were hit by an SUV.

“Another driver sideswiped them on their driver side and sent them into the guardrail,” he said.

Babb said his sister, brother-in-law, nephew and his wife who is three months pregnant -- thought they were going into the St. Johns River.

“And then they bounced off the guardrail and hit the cement barrier,” he said.

Thankfully, they all survived.

“Thank God the baby is OK,” Babb said.

But Babb’s 59-year-old sister, Debbie Sansing, was seriously hurt, and remains in an intensice care unit Tuesday night.

“Her hip socket was shattered, and so they had to rebuild the socket, and two broken ribs and a laceration of her eye. Thank God she’s going to be OK (but) it’s going to be a long road to recovery,” he said.

Babb said the driver took off – and he is asking anyone with information to come forward.

“And if the driver that caused this sees this, we hope that you turn yourself in, and come forward and admit to your mistake. We just want closure on this,” Babb said.

Babb said witnesses are describing the SUV as a black PT Cruiser, and it should have damage to the passenger side.

Cox Media Group