Nearly nine months after a deadly hit-and-run crash in Jacksonville, the driver accused of fleeing the scene and leaving 27-year-old Savana Pendarvis to die has been arrested.
On Jan. 2, 2026, Pendarvis was driving on University Boulevard South when she was rear-ended by a speeding car. Her car was pushed into a utility pole and caught fire. At the time, witnesses told investigators they believed the suspect was driving more than 100 miles per hour.
The family said Pendarvis died at the scene due to smoke inhalation.
The driver was quickly identified by law enforcement as Alexandra Rivera-Russo, who allegedly fled the scene and avoided arrest until September 1.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Rivera-Russo was tracked to the Oakleaf area of Clay County and taken into custody with the help of deputies there.
The sheriff’s office plans to charge him with several charges, including leaving the scene of a deadly accident. They also plan to seek out anyone who may have helped him evade law enforcement for so long.
“This is a reminder that we don’t give up. Just because you don’t hear publicly about a case anymore doesn’t mean we’re not working behind the scenes. We’re grateful for the hard work of our detectives, the marshals, and our partners to bring this criminal’s run to an end,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “Our hearts continue to go out to Pendarvis’ loved ones and other families experiencing similar pain.”
In the months since her death, First Coast News has spoken to Pendarvis’ family and a close friend. Her sister, Haleigh Smith, described her as a lover of reading and writing.
Pendarvis attended Douglas Anderson School of the Arts for creative writing and had recently graduated with her bachelor’s degree. According to Smith, she had been working in dispatch and was excited to begin her career.
On the day of the crash, Smith said Savana had been out shopping and was headed home. She had called a friend, excited to show off a thrift haul when she got back.
“She was the sweetest soul that you could meet,” Smith said. “I wish people knew her name while she was living.”