Savana Pendarvis, 27, was driving on Friday, January 2, 2026, on University Boulevard when her vehicle was struck by a speeding car. That driver, 24-year-old Alexandra Rivera-Russo, rear-ended her, pushing her into a utility pole, where her vehicle caught fire.
Rivera-Russo left the scene.
Rescuers rushed to the scene but sadly couldn’t save Pendarvis. People in another car were also injured.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) Traffic Homicide Unit detectives quickly identified Rivera-Russo as the suspect in the crash, but he was nowhere to be found. Detectives worked with JSO’s U.S. Marshals Task Force and never gave up.
The case was in danger of going cold with a lack of leads. However, they kept working to find him. We shared his photo many times, asking for tips.
On Tuesday, September 1, 2026, his luck ran out. Investigators tracked him down to a home in the Oakleaf area of Clay County. With the help from partners at the Clay County Sheriff's Office, Rivera-Russo was arrested.
He will face a number of charges, including leaving the scene of a deadly accident. Detectives will also see who may have helped him hide.
To view the post regarding this arrest on JSO's social media platforms, please click on one of the following links:
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