Arrest made in hit and run near UT

TAMPA - Police say they have arrested the driver who put a University of Tampa student and his friend in the hospital after a hit and run on Kennedy Boulevard early Saturday morning.

27 year old Andre Trujillo was taken into custody Sunday evening. He has a long rap sheet, including arrests in Hillsborough County for driving without a valid driver's license, grand theft auto and battery on a Law Enforcement Officer.

The crash happened just after 1 a.m. on Saturday. Police say a car headed west on Kennedy Boulevard in Tampa veered off of the road and on to the sidewalk.

UT students Steve DePalo and Matt DePietro say they watched as the car hit two people.

"Immediately both our reactions were 'that kid's dead'," said DePalo, a senior at UT.

It wasn't until hours later that the two learned the person on the street was their friend.

Police say student Erik Nicolleti, 20, and his friend Cree Riley, 19, who is visiting from out of town, had already crossed the road when they were hit.

Friends say what's worse is that the driver never stopped.

"The car never even tapped his brakes. He just kept driving," added DePalo.

Nicolleti and Riley were both taken to Tampa General Hospital in critical condition. Now, doctors say Nicolleti is brain dead and on life support. Riley is still in critical condition, but they say she seems to be improving.

Friends say Nicolleti is a junior at the university. His family flew in from New York to be with him at the hospital.

At this point, his condition is so poor, the hospital is only granting visitations to family.

After daylight Saturday, police say the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office recovered the vehicle at the corner of Lambright Street and Dale Mabry.

It had been abandoned.

Investigators now say Trujillo has admitted that it is his car.