Two sought in Tampa hit-and-run

Tampa Police are searching for a pair of people in connection with a hit-and-run crash on Tuesday that originated with an attempted traffic stop and ended with two people hospitalized.

Officers tried to stop a 2007 Jeep Wrangler near N 54th Street and E 28th Avenue around 7:08 p.m, police spokesman Lt. William Ferguson said in a statement. The Jeep then sped away and ran a stop sign at the N 54th Street and E 30th Avenue intersection, striking a 1995 Chevrolet Suburban carrying Alodia Willis, 27, and Frank Thomas, both of Elkton, Fla.

Thomas, the passenger in the SUV, was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected, police said. Wednesday is his 27th birthday.

Both were taken to Tampa General Hospital. Their conditions were not immediately available.

Ferguson said the Jeep's driver and passenger ran away after the collision. Authorities continue their search for the Jeep, which has a license tag # IBU 291.

-- Casey Cora, Times staff writer