A 47-year-old man and a 13-year-old boy were killed in an early morning hit-and-run accident that left another 40-year-old victim injured.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident occurred at approximately 2:36 a.m. on Saturday, August 17. The teenager was walking along the shoulder of the road with the man and the other female victim when they were hit by a pickup truck traveling south on U.S. 19 just south of 49th Street East. The driver failed to stop after the accident, continuing south on U.S. 19.
The 40-year-old victim sustained critical injuries and was being treated at Blake Medical Center. An investigation into the incident began promptly, and a suspect eventually came forward, reporting that he thought he had struck a deer. No charges have been filed against the suspect as of the time of this article, and he is cooperating with authorities.
Leaving the scene of a hit-and-run crash can be a felony
Anyone involved in an accident is required to stay behind at the scene, provide whatever necessary assistance, exchange information and wait for police and medical responders to arrive. A failure to do so will, at the very least, result in a misdemeanor charge.
When there are serious injuries or fatalities involved with the accident, then it becomes a felony situation. A person who flees an accident site with those sort of aggravating circumstances potentially faces significant fines and prison time.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by a negligent hit-and-run driver, meet with an experienced Bradenton personal injury lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez & Walsh.