Cocoa Hit-and-Run Leaves Homeless Man Critically Injured
On Tuesday, a surprising series of events unfolded along U.S. 1 and State Road 520 that began with a hit-and-run and ended at a local strip club. According to the report filed by the Cocoa police department, a man wielding a sign declaring himself to be homeless and asking for help was seen walking around State Road 520 shortly before the incident. Around 2:00 in the afternoon, this same man was hit by a gold-colored Ford Explorer SUV as he was attempting to cross the road.
The Cocoa beach police report indicates that witnesses saw the driver of the SUV stop the car, emerge from the vehicle, talk briefly to some other witnesses, and then leave the scene without attempting to offer aid to the individual who she had struck and clearly injured. The police arrived at the scene and immediately dispatched officers to try and track down the fleeing driver of the SUV. The report indicates that they discovered the Ford Explorer parked near to Cheaters, a strip club in Cocoa Beach.
The officers entered the establishment and discovered Shepard Seamans, a 22-year-old who apparently also works at Cheaters, sitting at the bar. During a conversation, she said some things which indicated that she had been involved in the accident, and the police subsequently apprehended her. According to the Cocoa Police, Seamans told the officers that after striking the homeless man she became scared and so rushed to Cheaters for a shot of whiskey to calm herself down.
The police arrested her on the spot. When she was formally charged, the charges included a few unrelated to the hit-and-run for which she was initially picked up.
The man who was stuck by Seamans’ Explorer remains in the hospital and is listed as in critical condition. As of this moment, no additional information has been released regarding this man, and it is not known whether or not he has any next-of-kin who need to receive notification. As the situation develops, Seamans will receive a legal defense from the Public Defender’s Office.
Read More:
Woman arrested in hit-and-run crash in Cocoa
Cops: Woman who went to strip club after running over panhandler remains in jail
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.