Hit and Run Crash Kills Orlando Bicyclist

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on December 4, 2014

A woman with multiple driving citations was recently charged with killing a bicyclist while trying to pass a vehicle.

Steven Michael Williams, 44, was riding a bike on North Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando on November 10 when he was struck and killed by a SUV, according to multiple media reports. The driver of the SUV fled the scene.

An anonymous tip led investigators to 27-year-old Adriana Valenzuela. She was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident with a death. Under Florida statutes, a driver is required to stay at the scene of an accident that injured somebody. The statute reads, “The driver of a vehicle involved in a crash occurring on public or private property which results in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the crash, or as close thereto as possible, and shall remain at the scene of the crash until he or she has fulfilled the requirements.”

Valenzuela, of College Park, was held on a $10,000 bail.

The Facts

According to a witness, Valenzuela passed a car on the opposite side of the road. Williams was traveling on the shoulder of the road, and Valenzuela hit Williams with the left side of her car. The witness said Valenzuela never used her brake lights and sped off after the accident. Valenzuela never checked on William’s condition. When investigators arrested the women, they discovered her SUV had a flat tire and left-side damage.

It’s unclear why she fled the accident, but the result was the loss of life for a man. Valenzuela had tried to explain the damage to the vehicle by saying she had hit a Taco Bell sign. Authorities did not believe the excuse.

According to police reports, Valenzuela had received 20 traffic violations since 2007, including leaving the scene of an accident.

Have you been injured in a hit-and-run accident? If so, contact us today at the Law Offices of James O. Cunningham, P.A. immediately at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587) for a free initial consultation.

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.