A driver of a moped died in an accident in Bradenton on the night of Wednesday, February 26, and now a driver faces charges for the role he played in the crash.
According to local law enforcement, the accident occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. that evening. The 56-year-old man from Bradenton was heading south on 9th Street East on his moped, approaching 501 Boulevard. Meanwhile, the 37-year-old driver of a pickup truck attempted to make a left turn in front of him on to 501, resulting in a collision.
The moped driver was thrown of his vehicle and died at the scene. The pickup driver, however, left the scene and continued driving, ultimately pulling into a business a little more than a half mile away. A deputy from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Department located him and his vehicle by following a debris trail.
The pickup driver, who (along with his passenger) was uninjured, was arrested and charged with driving on a suspended license, driving without insurance, failure to yield the right of way and leaving the scene of an accident involving death.
Hit and runs can be felony offenses
A hit and run is always a serious offense—drivers are expected to remain at the accident site, even if the accident is not severe, until police arrive to talk to the drivers involved and fill out a police report. If the accident involves a serious injury or death, however, it could be classified as a felony offense, punishable by significant fines and prison sentences, especially when paired with other aggravating factors.
For more information about the legal steps you should take if injured in a hit-and-run accident, contact an experienced Bradenton, FL auto accident lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez &Walsh.