PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (WWSB) – The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office says it has made an arrest in three hit-and-run incidents that occurred Halloween night in Charlotte County.
Eugene Manderino of Punta Gorda was arrested Dec. 22 after being released from a hospital, charged with failing to remain at a crash involving property damage and three counts of failing to remain at a crash involving serious bodily injury.
According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, on Oct. 31 at about 8 p.m., troopers were called to the scene of a crash on Sandhill Boulevard.
According to the crash report, a victim was placing his child in a car seat when he and his vehicle were struck by a black pickup truck. The victim was able to give the pickup truck license number to troopers, as well as a description of the driver before being taken to the hospital.
Shortly afterward, the black pickup allegedly hit another pedestrian nearby, on the same road. In this collision, witnesses said the pickup hit a man pushing a stroller with his 1-year-old daughter as they were trick-or-treating. The child was not hurt but the man was airlifted to a hospital.
A third incident was reported on Seasons Drive when the black pickup hit another pedestrian, who was also airlifted to All Children’s Hospital.
Deputies went to the home of the registered driver of the pickup, identified as Manderino. Deputies say Manderino denied being involved in an accident at first, but his wife told deputies they were involved in a crash and she was in the passenger’s seat at the time.
Manderino was arrested and taken to Advent Health in Port Charlotte to be evaluated. He was admitted for “multiple medical conditions,” the arrest affidavit said.
On Dec. 22, deputies arrested Manderino at home and he was booked into the Charlotte County Jail.
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