A 32-year-old woman, Lauren Howells, was arrested after a hit-and-run crash at a Largo Walmart on Thursday night left a 6-year-old child with critical, life-threatening injuries and the child’s mother with serious injuries.
Largo Police responded to the Walmart located at 2677 Roosevelt Blvd. just before 9 p.m. on May 8, 2025, after receiving reports of a hit-and-run. According to police, Howells struck the mother and child as they were leaving the store, as well as multiple vehicles in the parking lot, before fleeing the scene.
The mother was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries, while the 6-year-old child was taken to another area hospital with critical, life-threatening injuries. As of Friday morning, May 9, 2025, both victims remained hospitalized.
The suspect vehicle was located by the Clearwater Police Department at a nearby Days Inn, but Howells was not present. Investigators determined that Howells had left the Days Inn before the incident and returned shortly after with damage consistent with the crash. She then left the hotel in a second vehicle before Clearwater Police arrived.
Continuing their search, Largo Police learned that the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office had stopped a separate vehicle also registered to Howells for a traffic stop. Working with deputies, Largo Police located and apprehended Howells at The Murphy Hotel.
During an interview, Howells admitted to driving the vehicle, hitting something, and leaving the scene. She has been charged with leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, two counts of leaving the scene of a crash with injuries, and reckless driving with serious bodily injury.
The Largo Police Department expressed gratitude to the Clearwater Police Department and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in the investigation, which remains ongoing.
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