Grandmother killed by hit and run drivers

NEW PORT RICHEY - When Geraldine Ford, or “Bebe” as her family calls her, held her youngest grandson twenty years ago, they say it was life altering.

“The very last grand, she showed the mother that we all wanted her to be. She was the grandma,” offered Doll Ford, Geraldine’s sister.

A mother of three and grandmother of five, her family says Ford was known for helping those around her. If she could do something for you, she would.

Friday night when tragedy struck, no one, not even those who authorities say caused the accident, stopped to help her.

“She’ll be missed. There’s a lot of little things she did and you don’t miss those things until they’re no longer there, ‘til they’re gone,” added Ford.

It happened just before 11 p.m. on Friday night.

The Florida Highway Patrol says Ford was crossing U.S. 19 at Moog Road in Pasco County.

She was in the crosswalk, just over half way across the road when officials say a dark colored pick-up truck, traveling north, struck her.

Moments later, they say, she was hit by another car moving in the same direction.

Neither driver stopped.

Ford died at the scene.

“It was my sister. The last time I talked to her was the night before. You never know when it’s your last time,” said Ford.

Now Ford’s family is coming to grips with what they believe must have been a terrible accident; for not one, but two drivers to leave the scene and not look back.

Florida Highway Patrol has very little information to go off of and is now relying on the public for help.

“I just pray that they will be strong enough to step forward and say ‘It was an accident. I hit her.’ To step forward and say something so we could, in our own minds, put it to rest, we don’t have to wonder,” pleaded Ford.

If you witnessed the incident or know something about what happened, please call The Florida Highway Patrol.