Woman arrested nearly a year after deadly hit-and-run crash in Lakeland

Cassidy Mullis faces a charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving death

Cassidy Mullis (Lakeland Police Department)

LAKELAND, Fla. – A woman surrendered herself to law enforcement nearly a year after a hit-and-run crash that killed a bicyclist, according to Lakeland police.

Cassidy Mullis turned herself in at a Polk County Sheriff’s Office processing center in Frostproof on Monday, according a news release.

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Investigators said Mullis was driving a 2018 Nissan Sentra on June 25, 2023, when she hit Paul Ruis, 42, while he was riding a bike in the 3000 block of Bartow Road.

Officers said Mullis took off after the wreck. Ruis died from his injuries.

Investigators said they found the Sentra in Winter Haven and that it had damage consistent with the crash. Officers were also able to get DNA evidence off of the car. Mullis also admitted to driving the Sentra at the time of the crash, according to the release.

Mullis faces a charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving death.


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About the Author

Thomas Mates is a digital storyteller for News 6 and ClickOrlando.com. He also produces the podcast Florida Foodie. Thomas is originally from Northeastern Pennsylvania and worked in Portland, Oregon before moving to Central Florida in August 2018. He graduated from Temple University with a degree in Journalism in 2010.

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