Hit and Run driver Killed Two Children and Injured Four Others
In an absolutely tragic incident highlighting not only the prevalence of hit and run crashes in Florida, but also the sheer recklessness exhibited by many South Florida drivers, a driver swerved around a transit bus in Wilton Manors in Broward County that had stopped to pick up a passenger and then almost struck the bus when it was attempting to re-enter traffic. Even more tragically, as the motorist attempted to get ahead of the bus, he lost control of his car, and then ultimately plowed straight into a group of children playing in a nearby driveway at the time on December 27th. The incident occurred in broad daylight at 3:00 p.m. Rather than remaining at the scene of the accident, as he was required to do under Florida law, the driver, a 27 year old who was on probation for burglary, fled the scene of the accident.
The Aftermath of the Accident
After leaving the scene of the accident, the driver was eventually found and arrested by police the next day. He confessed to being the driver in the accident shortly after being arrested. The driver faces a total of fourteen criminal offenses as a result of the accident, a long list that includes two counts of leaving the scene of an accident involving death, tampering with evidence, and driving with a suspended license. He was also on probation for burglary of a dwelling in Broward County.
Florida Law Regarding Hit and Run or Leaving the Scene of an Accident
Florida law imposes strict statutory duties on motorists who have been involved in an accident, particularly an accident in which someone else is injured or killed. If the accident caused injury or death to another person, a driver is required to stop his or her vehicle at the scene of the crash (or as close thereto as possible); render reasonable assistance if it is clear another party to or a victim of the accident needs medical treatment; and, finally, immediately report the crash to the applicable police of sheriff’s office.
The penalties for not following these required procedures can be very steep. If the crash involved injuries to another person, a motorist who flees the scene (a hit and run) can be charged with a third degree felony, with penalties of up to 5 years in prison or 5 years of probation, and a $5,000 fine. If the crash involved a death, a driver who fled the scene faces up to 30 years in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of four years and a $10,000 fine. In all hit and run cases involving death or injury, the fleeing driver’s license is also revoked for a minimum of three years. Therefore, the driver in the recent Wilton Manors crash is facing a long period of imprisonment in addition to likely civil liability as a result of his actions.
Contact the Experienced Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys at Schwed, Adams & McGinley
Hit and run accidents are unfortunately more common occurrences than most people would think or expect. It can be particularly tragic when the victims are young children like in this recent incident in Wilton Manors. When the victims of a motor vehicle accident are children, there are special procedures and steps that must be taken to pursue a claim on an injured or killed child’s behalf. At Schwed, Adams, & McGinley, P.A., our experienced personal injury attorneys have more than 150 years of combined practice representing victims of all sorts of motor vehicle accidents, including hit and run incidents in which the victim may be a child. Therefore, if you, a family member or a loved one have been injured or killed in a hit and run accident, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Schwed, Adams & McGinley, P.A. today at 877-694-6079 or contact@schwedlawfirm.com for a free consultation.