Bradenton, FL (February 27, 2020) - A fatal hit-and-run crash involving a moped was reported in Bradenton on Wednesday, February 26th. The crash took place at the intersection of US 301 and 9th Street East.
According to reports from the Florida Highway Patrol, 36-year-old Ralphie Moreno was riding a moped when a pickup truck made a left turn directly into the path of the moped. The pickup truck driver then fled the scene shortly after the crash. Moreno succumbed to his injuries.
A debris trail leading away from the scene led investigators to the hit-and-run vehicle a few blocks from the crash. Police arrested 37-year-old Osvin Varela in connection with the incident. Varela was charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death and driving with a suspended license.
Florida experienced approximately 105,000 hit-and-run crashes last year. The number of hit-and-run accidents in our state continues to rise each year as hit-and-runs become an epidemic across Florida. Drivers who choose to flee the scene of a crash often do so knowing that their negligent actions have caused serious and catastrophic consequences for other motorists.
Our thoughts and condolences go out to the loved ones of Ralphie Moreno during this difficult time.
Rubenstein Law is dedicated to serving individuals & families injured by the negligence of others. We know first-hand the heartbreak that can be left behind after an accident. In our news blog, we write about cases of personal injury relevant to our line of work, and we report on news of judgments and appellate cases that affect the rights of personal injury claimants. We feel a responsibility to raise awareness of the injury and tragic loss of life occurring across our state every day.
Note: These posts are created using publicly available (secondary) sources, information has not been independently verified. If you see any information that should be corrected, please bring it to our attention and we will make adjustments. The photos depicted in these posts are not representative of the actual accident scene.
