A man who was fleeing from a hit-and-run crash in Pinellas Park on Dec. 12, was killed after he ran a stop sign and hit a tree, authorities said.

According to a Pinellas Park Police Department (PPPD) report, at about 10:09 a.m., a fatal traffic crash occurred at the intersection of Gateway Center Parkway and Gateway Center Boulevard.

The victim was identified as 27-year-old Yower Malvarez.

PPPD traffic homicide investigators determined that a minor collision had occurred earlier at the intersection of U.S. Highway 19 and Gandy Boulevard involving a 2002 white GMC Sierra, driven by Malvarez, and a 2024 black Hyundai Sonata.

Following that crash, Malvarez fled the scene, the report stated.

A short time later, Malvarez approached the intersection of Gateway Center Parkway and Gateway Cen

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