Hollywood Florida Fatal Hit-and-Run Driver Identified

HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA – NBCMiami reported that Hollywood Police recently identified a 23-year-old man who they said was the driver of a white 2006 Dodge Magnum station wagon which they believe was involved in a fatal hit-and-run on Dec. 24, 2011.

According to the police, surveillance video showed Robert Consavage being mowed down as he crossed N. Ocean Drive at Indiana Street in Hollywood at 2:45 a.m. on Christmas Eve, with the car never stopping.

The driver of the fatal hit and run vehicle was Jonathan Patterson, Hollywood Police said Tuesday.

Police said a Crime Stoppers tip Dec. 29 led investigators to a Fort Lauderdale body shop where the car was being repaired. The next day, Patterson and the station wagon’s owner, Dwight Reeves Jr., 24, came forward and “voluntarily gave sworn statements indicating their involvement in the crash,” police said.

Police said no arrests have been made, but criminal charges are pending “based on the conclusion of the investigation.”

Florida law requires you to stop if you injury or kill another

Florida Statute 316.027 deals with a crash involving death or personal injuries. It says in pertinent part that:

(1)(a) The driver of any vehicle involved in a crash occurring on public or private property that results in injury of any person must immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the crash, or as close thereto as possible, and must remain at the scene of the crash until he or she has fulfilled the requirements of s.316.062.

(b) The driver of any vehicle involved in a crash occurring on public or private property that results in the death of any person must immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the crash, or as close thereto as possible, and must remain at the scene of the crash until he or she has fulfilled the requirements of s.316.062.

Failure to remain at the scene could be a felony. The passenger may be an accomplice, though the police could use him as a witness against his friend in order to solidify their case.

If you lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident in Florida, call Jason Turchin at 954-515-5000 for a free consultation.