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Regina Goodrich of Coral Springs, Florida Arrested for Hit-and-Run Crash That Killed Tourist in Fort Lauderdale

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Regina-Goodrich-300x169Regina Goodrich of Coral Springs, Florida was arrested for her alleged involvement in a fatal Fort Lauderdale hit-and-run crash that killed Miguel Soler.

Goodrich, 25, faces charges for failure to remain at an accident involving death and failure to use due care. She reportedly turned herself in on Thursday and pleaded not guilty. She was released on $70,000 bond and will have to wear an ankle monitor. She was also ordered not to drive or drink alcohol. News sources did not name a defense attorney for Goodrich.

According to the arrest report, the alleged crash occurred at around 6:30 p.m. on July 2 in the 2900 block of East Las Olas Boulevard. Soler, 58, a New Jersey resident, was in Fort Lauderdale on vacation with his family for the Fourth of July weekend.

He was driving west on East Las Olas Boulevard when he stopped his car so his wife, Vivian Soler, could take a picture of him posing next to the “Welcome to Fort Lauderdale Beach” sign. As he was getting back into his vehicle, an SUV, also driving west, struck and killed him. The driver fled the scene and did not stop to administer aid. Soler was rushed to Broward Health Medical Center where he later died.

Miguel-Soler-300x169Investigators found the suspected hit-run SUV in the 300 block of Tarpon Drive, about 10 blocks away from the crash site. The vehicle is a 2009 Ford Escape registered to Goodrich’s father.

During Goodrich’s first court appearance on Thursday, the prosecution said witnesses saw Goodrich drinking with her friends at a bar on Fort Lauderdale beach for hours before the crash. She reportedly discouraged her friends from hiring an Uber and insisted on driving them because she was their designated driver.

Goodrich’s friends told investigators that she refused to stop after the crash and later became very upset and threatened to kill herself. She reportedly deleted two Instagram videos that show her sitting with her friends at a table with a bucket of beer. One of the videos shows Goodrich drinking what seems to be alcohol.

It is unclear if Goodrich’s charges will be upgraded with DUI manslaughter, but it is likely the prosecution will only pursue the fatal hit-and-run charge because it is easier to prove and carries a much harsher penalty. Florida’s legislature toughened penalties for hit-and-run accidents to encourage drivers to remain at the scene of the crash even if they are drunk.

A hit-and-run is committed when a driver is involved in an accident with property damage, injury, or death and willfully leaves the scene of the crash without providing their name, address, registration and driver’s license information to the victim.

Leaving the scene of a fatal accident is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 4 years in prison. It carries a much more severe penalty than DUI manslaughter, which is punishable by 15 years in prison.

Source: 8.10.17 Regina Goodrich of Coral Springs Arrested for Hit-and-Run Crash That Killed Tourist.pdf

Regina Goodrich of Coral Springs, Florida Arrested for Hit-and-Run Crash That Killed Tourist in Fort Lauderdale

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Regina-Goodrich-300x169Regina Goodrich of Coral Springs, Florida was arrested for her alleged involvement in a fatal Fort Lauderdale hit-and-run crash that killed Miguel Soler.

Goodrich, 25, faces charges for failure to remain at an accident involving death and failure to use due care. She reportedly turned herself in on Thursday and pleaded not guilty. She was released on $70,000 bond and will have to wear an ankle monitor. She was also ordered not to drive or drink alcohol. News sources did not name a defense attorney for Goodrich.

According to the arrest report, the alleged crash occurred at around 6:30 p.m. on July 2 in the 2900 block of East Las Olas Boulevard. Soler, 58, a New Jersey resident, was in Fort Lauderdale on vacation with his family for the Fourth of July weekend.

He was driving west on East Las Olas Boulevard when he stopped his car so his wife, Vivian Soler, could take a picture of him posing next to the “Welcome to Fort Lauderdale Beach” sign. As he was getting back into his vehicle, an SUV, also driving west, struck and killed him. The driver fled the scene and did not stop to administer aid. Soler was rushed to Broward Health Medical Center where he later died.

Miguel-Soler-300x169Investigators found the suspected hit-run SUV in the 300 block of Tarpon Drive, about 10 blocks away from the crash site. The vehicle is a 2009 Ford Escape registered to Goodrich’s father.

During Goodrich’s first court appearance on Thursday, the prosecution said witnesses saw Goodrich drinking with her friends at a bar on Fort Lauderdale beach for hours before the crash. She reportedly discouraged her friends from hiring an Uber and insisted on driving them because she was their designated driver.

Goodrich’s friends told investigators that she refused to stop after the crash and later became very upset and threatened to kill herself. She reportedly deleted two Instagram videos that show her sitting with her friends at a table with a bucket of beer. One of the videos shows Goodrich drinking what seems to be alcohol.

It is unclear if Goodrich’s charges will be upgraded with DUI manslaughter, but it is likely the prosecution will only pursue the fatal hit-and-run charge because it is easier to prove and carries a much harsher penalty. Florida’s legislature toughened penalties for hit-and-run accidents to encourage drivers to remain at the scene of the crash even if they are drunk.

A hit-and-run is committed when a driver is involved in an accident with property damage, injury, or death and willfully leaves the scene of the crash without providing their name, address, registration and driver’s license information to the victim.

Leaving the scene of a fatal accident is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 4 years in prison. It carries a much more severe penalty than DUI manslaughter, which is punishable by 15 years in prison.

Source: 8.10.17 Regina Goodrich of Coral Springs Arrested for Hit-and-Run Crash That Killed Tourist.pdf

Red South Beach Hotel Employee Angel Cuesta Arrested in Miami Beach, Florida for Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash

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Angel-Cuesta-300x225Red South Beach Hotel front-desk clerk Angel Cuesta was arrested for his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run crash that caused the death of a pedestrian in Miami Beach, Florida. Cuesta faces charges for leaving the scene of an accident involving a death. The press did not list an attorney for him.

According to the arrest report, the alleged crash occurred at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday at 38th and Collins Avenue. Cuesta reportedly took a 2017 Chevrolet Cruz from the hotel’s valet station to buy a Red Bull at a Walgreens on 41st and Pine Tree Drive to help him get through his shift at the hotel.

He purportedly drove the vehicle for eight blocks before striking a woman walking on a marked crosswalk at 38th and Collins Avenue. The pedestrian was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center where she died later that day. Her identity has not been released as police are still notifying her next of kin.

“Miami Beach Fire Rescue responded and transported the victim to JMH Ryder where unfortunately she died as a result of her injuries,” Ernesto Rodriguez of the Miami Beach Police Department told the press.

After his arrest, Cuesta told police that he tried to avoid striking the woman and admitted to seeing her on the ground after he hit her, but he still fled the scene.

“The defendant stated that he attempted an evasive maneuver to avoid the crash, however was unable to do so and struck the unknown pedestrian,” the arrest report said. “The defendant was able to see the unknown victim lying on the ground as he drove away.”

Cuesta allegedly never tried to contact authorities and attempted to hide the Chevrolet in a parking lot at 3535 Indian Creek. The vehicle had “extensive damage” on its bumper and left front side, the arrest report said. A witness reportedly told police that Cuesta was an employee at Red South Beach Hotel. He voluntarily turned himself in for questioning and was placed under arrest.

According to Florida Highway Patrol, the number of fatal hit-and-run crashes in South Florida has been steadily rising over the past few years. The figures went up from 72,000 in 2012 to 99,004 in 2016. Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County have the highest number of hit-and-runs in Florida.

“I know hit-and-runs continue to be a problem,” said FHP spokesman Sgt. Mark Wysocky. “Unfortunately they continue to go up from previous years.”

Florida Highway Patrol ran a Stay At The Scene campaign at the beginning of the year to try and encourage drivers to remain at the scene of the crash, but Wysocky said it’s too soon to tell if it worked. Wysocky said there are several reasons why drivers flee the scene. Sometimes it’s because the driver has a suspended license or no insurance, or they may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In most cases, the driver is not at fault and may face little or no penalties if they remained at the scene.

Source: 7.16.17 Angel Cuesta Arrested in Miami Beach, Florida for Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash.pdf

Scott Matesky of Delray Beach, Florida Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver

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Scott-Matesky-300x177Scott Matesky of Delray Beach, Florida died on Monday after he was struck by a hit-and-run driver last month, a family member told news sources.

According to the police report, Matesky, 39, was struck by a white Honda Civic as he was crossing West Atlantic Avenue near NW 10th Avenue on the morning of April 15.

Sources say he was waiting for a friend to pick him up and take him to a casino in Coconut Creek. It is unclear how long he lay on the roadway after the crash before he received help.

Delray Beach police released a surveillance video that shows Matesky getting thrown into the air after he was struck by the Honda Civic. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene of the crash without stopping to render aid.

Matesky was rushed to Delray Medical Center in critical condition. He died on Monday due to a pulmonary embolism in his lungs. Scott’s brother, Lonny Matesky, told the press that he hopes the hit-and-run driver is found.

Delray Beach police spokesperson Dani Moschella told news sources that the department “definitely needs tips” and encouraged anyone who witnessed the crash or has information about the hit-and-run driver to contact investigators. The Honda Civic likely has extensive front-end damage and a cracked windshield.

Victor-Villanueva-Rivera-300x169Another fatal hit-and-run crash was reported in Boynton Beach this week. Victor Villanueva Rivera is accused in the hit-and-run fatality of Brandon Wesson. Rivera, 48, is being charged with leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death and driving without a driver’s license. It is unknown if he is being held on bond or if he has acquired legal representation.

The alleged crash occurred at the intersection of Hypoloxo and Lawrence Road in Boynton Beach. Wesson was riding a motorcycle west when the driver of a pickup truck traveling east hit him. The driver did not stop to render aid.

Investigators believe the hit-and-run driver was making a left turn at the intersection and did not see Wesson. The force of the crash broke the front fork of the motorbike’s frame and caused the front wheel to fall off. The pickup truck dragged parts of the motorbike for several feet, leaving behind scrap marks and fluid trails.

The scrap marks and fluid trails led police to the driveway of Rivera’s home in the 3000 block of Nowata Road. Investigators questioned Rivera and learned that he is an illegal immigrant who doesn’t have a driver’s license. He told officers that he was not aware he had crashed into anyone.

Hit-and-run drivers who leave the scene of a fatal crash are guaranteed prison time. Florida lawmakers enhanced the penalty for leaving the scene of a fatal crash in 2014 to a minimum of four years, even if the driver was impaired at the time of the crash.

State figures show Palm Beach County had 7,694 hit-and-run car accidents in 2016, which caused 12 deaths and 102 injuries. Along with Broward County and Miami-Dade County, Palm Beach County is among the top three counties in Florida for hit-and-run crashes.

Source: 5.2.17 Matesky Killed in Hit-and-Run Crash.pdf

Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach Counties Rank 1, 2, and 3 for Hit-and-Run Crashes in Florida

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Kaiser-Car-Accident-300x169Broward County, Miami-Dade County, and Palm Beach County are the top three counties in Florida for hit-and-run car accidents, according to news sources. The overall number of hit-and-run car accidents has risen by over a 25% in the last three years. In 2016 alone, Palm Beach County reportedly experienced 7,694 hit-and-run car accidents, which caused 12 fatalities and 102 injuries.

Hit-and-run car accidents occur when a driver hits another vehicle or a pedestrian and fails to remain at the scene of the accident. The incident is considered a hit-and run crash even if the driver is apprehended or becomes incapacitated near the scene of the accident. While some hit-and-run accidents are truly an accident (a driver may not realize they hit someone), many involve drugs and alcohol. And the results are sobering: Sources indicate that 179 people died after being struck by hit-and-run drivers in Florida last year.

One such case occurred earlier this week, when Oscar Roberto Acevedo of Miami-Dade, Florida was arrested for a DUI accident that occurred last year. Although the case was not a hit-and-run, 29-year-old Acevedo allegedly crashed into a vehicle on Sawgrass Expressway. The crash killed Samuel Anthony Ruiz Jr. of Coral Springs and injured four others, sources report. It is not clear why it took a year for authorities to charge Acevedo, nor is it known whether he sustained injuries in the crash.Acevedo, 29, is now facing charges of DUI causing death, DUI causing serious bodily injury, and reckless driving. A bond of $99,000 has been set for him, and if he is released, he is not permitted to use drugs or drink alcohol while he awaits trial.
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