JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The sister of a woman who died in a fiery hit-and-run crash earlier this year is using social media to get the word out about the suspected driver who walked away from the crash.
Savana Pendarvis, 27, was killed on January 2nd when her car was struck at a high rate of speed on University Boulevard. Her vehicle spun out, hit a telephone pole and burst into flames. She died at the scene. Two other people in a separate car were also injured in the crash.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has identified 24-year-old Alexander Rivera-Russo as a suspect and says the search for him is ongoing.
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Pendarvis’ sister, Haleigh Smith, took to TikTok this week to ask the community for help finding Rivera-Russo.
“If JSO doesn’t have eyes on him, maybe the half a million people that stumbled upon my TikTok will be on the lookout for him,” Smith said. “And hopefully justice will be served sooner rather than later.”
Smith said learning the details of the crash made posting the video feel necessary.
“Well, learning that it wasn’t just a hit and run, and imagining and picturing the fear that was in her whenever she saw Alexander speeding up behind her, I just couldn’t imagine what she was going through,” Smith said.
Smith described her sister as an exceptionally careful and responsible driver, making the circumstances of her death even harder to process.
“I didn’t think it was real at first,” Smith said. “Savannah was the most careful person that I know. She drove 10 and 2, eyes ahead of her, did not check her phone. It did not matter. And to watch her be on the victim end of such careless driving, it just didn’t feel real.”
RELATED: Do you know this man? JSO looking for 23-year-old accused in deadly hit-and-run on University Blvd.
Smith had a direct message for Rivera-Russo and his family.
“Take accountability. Don’t be a coward. Stand up for it. Just stand up for what you did. You know what you did. It’s time to get justice,” Smith said.
Anyone with information on Rivera-Russo’s whereabouts is asked to call 904-630-0500. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
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