The suspect is also accused of driving without a valid license at the time of the crash.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Petersburg police have arrested a 26-year-old man in connection with a deadly hit-and-run crash that killed a motorcyclist last month.
Police announced Carlos Briones-Leyva, 26, was arrested Thursday, Oct. 15, on a warrant charging him with leaving the scene of a crash involving death and driving without a valid driver’s license causing death.
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The crash happened around 1:10 a.m. Sept. 27 at the intersection of 9th Avenue North and 4th Street North.
According to investigators, Briones-Leyva was driving a dark-colored Mercedes SUV northbound on 4th Street North when he turned west onto 9th Avenue North, crossing in front of a southbound Suzuki motorcycle.
The SUV and the motorcycle collided, and police said the Mercedes driver sped away westbound on 9th Avenue North.
The motorcycle’s rider, a 65-year-old man from Pinellas Park, was taken to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg, where he later died.
Following the crash, investigators released a description of the Mercedes, which they said was dark gray or black with significant front-right damage.
Police announced Briones-Leyva’s arrest nearly three weeks later. Authorities have not released further details about how investigators identified him as the suspect.