Across the United States, a troubling surge in hit-and-run crashes involving impaired drivers has left communities reeling and law enforcement agencies scrambling to keep roads safe. In the past several months, a series of high-profile incidents—from Florida to New Jersey to Utah—has thrown a harsh spotlight on the dangers posed by drivers who get behind the wheel while intoxicated and then flee the scene.
In Cantonment, Florida, a late-night crash on East Kingsfield Road last week ended with the arrest of Alfred Ryan Long, 36, after he rear-ended another vehicle near Cabot Street, crashed into a traffic sign, and then abandoned his car to escape on foot. According to the NorthEscambia.com report, a witness described the driver as a white, middle-aged man in an orange shirt who appeared “impaired” and reeked of alcohol. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) quickly located Long a few blocks away, sweaty and out of breath. Troopers observed clear signs of impairment: swaying, stumbling, slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and a heavy odor of alcohol on his breath.
What’s more, Long was found concealing his vehicle’s Florida tag under his clothes—an act troopers believed was a deliberate attempt to hinder their investigation. He failed a series of roadside sobriety exercises and refused to provide a breath sample. Long was charged with driving under the influence with property damage, leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage, and obstruction without violence. He was later released from Escambia County Jail on a $2,500 bond.
Meanwhile, in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, 20-year-old Yasin Abdel-Hamid was arrested after fleeing a hit-and-run crash on September 7, 2025, in the 2900 block of Philmont Avenue. According to the Lower Moreland Police Department, Abdel-Hamid was traveling southbound when he struck another vehicle attempting to turn left into a parking lot. Both vehicles suffered heavy damage, and Abdel-Hamid continued driving, failing to stop and provide necessary information. He was eventually found about 0.3 miles from the crash site, parked in a nearby lot. Abdel-Hamid faces a slew of charges: accidents involving death or personal injury, reckless driving, careless driving, disregard of traffic lane, and failure to keep right.
But perhaps the most tragic of these recent cases unfolded in Readington Township, New Jersey, where, on September 29, 2025, a drunk driver took a life and then drove off. Antoni E. Xicay Mazariegos, 24, of Nanuet, New York, was behind the wheel of a pick-up truck with an attached trailer when he struck and killed Marshall J. Vizinat, 57, who was standing outside his truck on the shoulder of Interstate 78 West. According to Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée M. Robeson, Mazariegos did not stop to help. Instead, he continued driving west, exited I-78 in Tewksbury Township, and struck another vehicle before police caught up with him. Mazariegos was charged with second-degree death by auto, second-degree leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death, and third-degree strict liability vehicular homicide. He was released onto pretrial monitoring with conditions and now faces up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000.
In Utah, the consequences of habitual impaired driving came into sharp focus after a July hit-and-run in Murray left a pedestrian dead and a community shaken. On July 31, 2025, 53-year-old Kimberley Jean Jespersen was crossing 4500 South at State Street when she was struck by a passenger car and then fatally hit by a truck whose driver swerved to avoid the stopped vehicle. According to ABC4 Utah, the driver of the truck, Nathan Michael Portillo, 24, was later arrested on suspicion of murder and a litany of other charges, including failure to remain at the scene, obstruction of justice, speeding, unsafe lane travel, driving on a suspended license, reckless driving, and threat of violence.
Portillo, described by police as a habitual DUI offender, was reportedly driving his 2014 GMC Sierra pickup erratically and at high speed while heavily intoxicated. A passenger in the truck, who was also Portillo’s intimate partner, told police she was so frightened by his threats and reckless driving that she jumped out of the moving vehicle, sustaining only minor injuries. Video analysis confirmed that Portillo was traveling at least 55 miles per hour and made an unsafe lane change into an occupied lane before the fatal crash. Afterward, he allegedly tried to cover his tracks by repairing damage to the front of his truck. With several outstanding warrants and a history of excessive drinking even after the fatal incident, Portillo is now being held without bail in the Salt Lake County Jail.
Each of these cases underscores the devastating impact that impaired and reckless driving can have—not just on the victims and their families, but on entire communities. The pattern is disturbingly familiar: a driver, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, makes a reckless decision, causes a crash, and then attempts to evade responsibility by fleeing the scene. Law enforcement officials across the country have repeatedly warned about the dangers of impaired driving, yet the problem persists.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, hit-and-run crashes have been on the rise nationwide, with alcohol often playing a significant role. The consequences can be severe: in addition to facing criminal charges, drivers convicted of leaving the scene of a crash involving injury or death can expect lengthy prison terms and hefty fines. But for the victims and their loved ones, the legal outcome is often cold comfort compared to the loss they have suffered.
In the aftermath of these incidents, communities have rallied to support victims and push for tougher enforcement. In Utah, support for victims and survivors of domestic violence and impaired driving is available 24/7, with advocates urging anyone in immediate danger to call 911. The cases have also sparked renewed debate over sentencing guidelines, pretrial release conditions, and the adequacy of current measures to deter repeat offenders.
For those charged in these recent cases, the legal process is just beginning. As the courts weigh the evidence and consider the circumstances of each incident, the broader message remains clear: impaired driving and fleeing the scene of a crash can have life-altering consequences—for everyone involved. Law enforcement agencies continue to urge the public to make responsible choices and to report suspected impaired drivers before tragedy strikes.
As these cases move through the justice system, the hope is that heightened awareness, tougher penalties, and community vigilance will help turn the tide against the deadly combination of impaired driving and hit-and-run crashes.
