Julia Blackwell Charged in Deadly Christmas Crash, FHP Says

May 21, 2026

CHRISTMAS, FL, (May 16, 2026) – A 21-year-old woman was arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of a pedestrian Saturday morning in Orange County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Authorities said Julia Ann Blackwell, of Christmas, was booked into the Orange County Jail on a charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving death.

Investigators reported that the incident occurred around 5:10 a.m. near State Road 520 and Colonial Drive. Troopers said Blackwell was driving a GMC Sierra westbound when the pickup truck struck a 56-year-old man from Christmas.

The pedestrian suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Blackwell allegedly fled on foot after the collision. Authorities later identified her as the suspected driver of the vehicle. She was located Wednesday and taken into custody.

The crash happened east of Bithlo and west of the town of Christmas. The investigation remains ongoing.

Incident Location

FATAL HIT-AND-RUN PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION

The crash remains under investigation.

Candice Bond, an experienced hit-and-run accident attorney, shared her perspective regarding cases involving fatal hit-and-run collisions.

“Separate from criminal charges, a victim’s family may be entitled to compensation through a civil lawsuit against the responsible party,” said Bond, Managing Partner of Bond Legal and a national analyst for Accident Injury News. “In addition to the diligent work of law enforcement, an attorney can re-interview important witnesses, analyze any surveillance video from the scene of the crash and obtain phone and texting records of the liable party.”

Bond further explained that legal representation can help families navigate the aftermath of a deadly crash while protecting their rights and pursuing accountability against negligent drivers.

There were an estimated 737,100 hit-and-run crashes in the United States in 2015, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), translating to one every 43 seconds. NHTSA said that the 2,049 fatalities that resulted from hit-and-run crashes in 2016 were the highest number ever recorded.

WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM

Pending results of the investigation, the family of the 56-year-old man may be entitled to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit for loss of companionship, funeral costs, pain and suffering, and emotional trauma.

“It is vital for families of victims to hire an attorney when filing a wrongful death injury claim, which allows the attorney to negotiate with an insurance company on the behalf of a client,” said Stefano Formica, Of Counsel at Bond Legal.

Formica noted that insurance companies may attempt to resolve claims quickly for less compensation than families deserve. He added that an experienced attorney can advocate aggressively to help ensure victims’ families are treated fairly and receive proper compensation.

(This report is based on verified data - learn more on our About Us page.)

If your loved one has been killed by a hit-and-run driver and would like a no-cost consultation, please contact our national legal analyst Candice Bond today

(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Accident Injury News can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-986-7738 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).

Julia Blackwell Charged in Deadly Christmas Crash, FHP Says

Incident Location

FATAL HIT-AND-RUN PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION

WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM

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