Scott 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.
Another 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.