Husband, 80, dies pushing wife away from careening car in Tampa

TAMPA (FOX 13) - Police say an 80-year-old man's final action was to push his wife out of the way when a vehicle careened toward them Saturday afternoon. 

Now, Tampa Police Department officers are searching for the driver of the out-of-control vehicle, who fled the scene of the crash.

It happened just after 12 noon on St. Patrick's Day in the 4000 block of W. Hillsborough Avenue.

Police say Felix De la Uz and his 69-year-old wife were walking along Hillsborough Ave. when a white Honda Civic left the roadway, hit a sign, and then hit an electrical box.

De la Uz was apparently able to push his wife out of the car's way right before it made impact. Uz was declared dead at the scene.

Witnesses said the driver and passenger got out of the car and took off. Surveillance video shows the two running between two businesses.

The suspected driver, a white male, about 5'4" tall, was wearing a white or grey tank top, tattered jeans, a grey, fitted baseball cap with a flat bill, and dark tennis shoes.

The second suspect - a white female witnesses say was the passenger in the Honda - is described as being 5'4" tall with blonde hair. She was wearing a green or blue t-shirt and fitted blue jeans.

Anyone who knows or recognizes either of the suspects is asked to call Tampa PD at (813) 231-6130 or CrimeStoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477).

Hillsborough Avenue was closed for hours to allow officers to investigate the crime scene; reopening around 6:30 p.m.