Police in Tampa, FL, announced the arrest of a 22-year-old man who allegedly struck and killed a bicyclist on Wednesday night and fled the scene.
Seth Lapensohn faces a felony charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving death and a misdemeanor DUI charge. He is being held in the Hillsborough County Jail on $15,500 bond. The press did not name an attorney for him.
According to the arrest report, the accident occurred at approximately 7 p.m. on March 4 on W. Gray Street near N. Gomez Avenue. Lapensohn was reportedly driving a 2016 Jeep Wrangler on the eastbound lane when he struck a bicyclist who was riding on the shoulder.
The victim, whose name hasn’t yet been released, was thrown from his bicycle and suffered severe injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lapensohn kept on driving without stopping to render aid or call 911. He returned to the scene about 50 minutes later and identified himself to officers as the driver involved in the crash, the report states. The damage to his vehicle was purportedly consistent with vehicle parts found at the crash site.
The officers who questioned Lapensohn reported smelling alcohol on his breath. He showed multiple signs of intoxication, including glassy eyes, slurred speech, and body tremors. He performed poorly on field sobriety exercises, according to the report.
A breath test showed his blood-alcohol content level was 0.008, which is less than Florida’s 0.08 limit for impairment. A drug recognition exam also showed he was impaired. The results of a urine test are pending, police said.
Records show Lapensohn is a student at the University of Tampa. The crash occurred about a mile east of his residence on the 400 block of N. Rome Avenue.
Two more DUI arrests were reported in South Florida this week. Police arrested two drivers on Tuesday for their alleged involvement in separate fatal crashes that occured in Orange County last year. Both drivers were arrested on a DUI manslaughter charge.
Raymond Sater, 44, was arrested for his role in a crash that occurred in October on Plymouth Sorrento Road. He was driving a pickup truck when he attempted to pass another vehicle and crashed head-on into a car driven by 25-year-old Parker Anthony, police said. Anthony was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sater’s blood alcohol level was 0.185, which is more than twice the legal limit in Florida. He was booked into Lake County Jail on $10,000 bond. It is unclear if he has acquired the services of an attorney.
The second arrest was of Edgardo Montes Negron, 50, for allegedly causing an accident that killed a motorcyclist in September 2019. Negron was reportedly turning onto Amber Road from Colonial Drive when he drove into the path of 25-year-old Austin McCurry, his arrest report states. McCurry died at the scene of the crash.
A witness allegedly saw Montes throw a drink out of his car after the crash. It is unclear if Montes submitted to breath or urine testing. He was ordered held without bond at the Orange County Jail. Attorney information wasn’t available.
Florida has passed some of the most stringent DUI laws in the country because of all the deaths that have occurred as a result of drunk driving. If you have been arrested on DUI charges in Florida, then you should immediately consult an experienced DUI attorney who can help you build a good defense and avoid a conviction.
South Florida DUI Attorney
Have you been arrested for a DUI? Contact Brian Silber, P.A. to set up a free initial consultation and work with one of South Florida’s most experienced DUI attorneys.
Sources: 5.3.20 Tampa driver arrested in crash that killed bicyclist.pdf & 3.3.20 FHP arrests 2 drivers on DUI charges for 2019 fatal crashes.pdf