A Honduran man has been arrested after allegedly fleeing a fatal three-vehicle crash in Polk County, Florida, because he was afraid, did not have a driving licence and was unlawfully in the United States, authorities said.
Grevil Cerrato, 26, was detained after the collision on State Road 37 near County Road 630, close to the Bradley Junction community, on the morning of Monday 2 November.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies and fire crews were called to the scene at about 6.10am. A 71-year-old man from Lakeland was found dead inside a 2006 Ford Focus.
A 29-year-old man from Wimauma, who was driving a Toyota SUV, was taken to hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. The driver of a Honda sedan abandoned his vehicle and ran from the scene, according to investigators.
Police say wet road contributed to Polk County crash
Initial findings suggest the Toyota was travelling north while the Ford and Honda were heading south, with the Honda behind the Ford.
Investigators believe the SUV lost control in poor weather on the wet road before crossing into the southbound lanes and striking the Ford. The Toyota then collided with the Honda.
Cerrato was later found and told traffic homicide detectives that he had run away because he was scared. The sheriff’s office said he admitted he did not have a valid driving licence and was in the US unlawfully.
He was booked on charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving a death, a first-degree felony, and driving without a valid licence, a misdemeanour. An immigration hold has also been placed on him.
The names of the man who died and the Toyota driver have not been released. Authorities have not said whether the SUV driver will face traffic citations or criminal charges over the collision.
State Road 37 was closed for about five hours while the scene was examined. The investigation remains ongoing.
