Osceola County Hit-and-Run Results in Death of Teenager

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on July 12, 2017

On Saturday night, the Florida Highway Patrol received a call that directed them to Orange Blossom Trail, close to where the road crosses Hope Street in Osceola County. Along the shoulder of the road, the responding police and other emergency crew members discovered the 17-year-old Joyvan Ventura Villafane.

It appears that he was walking along the paved shoulder of Orange Blossom Trail when a car swerved off of the street and ran him over. Despite the best efforts of the first responders, there was nothing they could do to help the young man. He was declared dead at the scene of the accident.

Now, Ventura Villafane’s family is left with a void in their lives. Statements from the family indicated that they are all, as is to be expected, in total shock regarding the incident. What horrifies them the most is that after striking the pedestrian, the individuals in the vehicle did not stop to offer any assistance or to see whether or not the person they struck was badly injured. According to the official report, the car simply veered off the road, collided with Venture Villafane, and then sped away.

There are a few reasons why someone might flee from the scene of an accident between a car and a pedestrian. None of them are good. Ultimately, the police are now forced to engage in a search for the driver of the vehicle. When the driver is discovered, they will find themselves facing severe charges including manslaughter and fleeing from a fatal accident. On their own, these charges will completely alter the course of a life, but in cases such as this, where a family is left grieving, the charges from the police will likely be coupled with additional legal measures as the family seeks financial reparations for the death of their loved one.

Although no clear description of the vehicle responsible for Ventura Villafane’s death exists, the police have enough reason to suspect that the automobile responsible is a black or dark-colored sedan or SUV. Due to evidence gathered at the scene of the accident, it also seems likely that the vehicle incurred damage to its right side, possibly along the front of the right side.

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.