Heroic Victim Helps Police Nab Suspect in Double Hit-and-Run Case

In a dramatic sequence of events in Gainesville, Florida, a 44-year-old woman named Maureen Nicole Nida was taken into custody following a series of vehicular mishaps and an attempt to evade responsibility. The incident unfolded last evening, leading to her arrest on charges of hit-and-run.

According to the Gainesville Police Department, the series of collisions began around 7 p.m. on February 9. Nida was reportedly turning south from SW Archer Road onto SW 35th Boulevard when her vehicle unexpectedly mounted the outside curb. In what seemed an overcorrection, she accelerated and sideswiped another car. Instead of stopping, Nida allegedly continued her erratic journey, this time colliding with the front of a second vehicle before speeding away.

The situation escalated as Nida’s vehicle veered into a dimly lit area behind a Kohl’s department store before making its way toward SW 34th Street. There, her flight came to an abrupt halt when she found herself stopped behind a police patrol car at a stop sign. The second victim, who had been following Nida, strategically maneuvered her vehicle to block Nida’s path, preventing any further escape. The victim then exited her car to alert the officer in the patrol car.

The police officer on the scene gathered testimony from four witnesses, each confirming that they saw Nida’s vehicle make contact with the other cars and heard the screeching of her tires as she fled into the Kohl’s parking lot.

Once apprehended, and after being read her rights, Nida reportedly denied any intention to flee, claiming she had been seeking a secure location to stop. However, the officer’s report highlighted that Nida bypassed numerous well-lit and safe areas, continuing to drive until she reached SW 34th Street. Despite being positioned behind a patrol car, Nida did not attempt to report the collisions to law enforcement. Instead, she traveled approximately 1,000 feet from the initial crash site before her escape was thwarted.

Nida has been charged with two counts of leaving the scene of a crash with property damage. She has two convictions for driving under the influence from incidents in 2002 and 2006. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $20,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.