A well-known former restauranteur in South Florida has been released on bond after being arrested and charged more than eight months after a fatal car accident. The 52-year-old Miami chef reportedly turned himself in at the local police department on June 29 and was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with injuries and vehicular homicide. Arrest documents show that the driver was arrested early that morning and booked into custody at TGK Correctional Center within hours of his surrender. He paid a $12,000 bond in exchange for his release.
According to police, the man was driving a Ford Explorer when he was involved in an accident with a Nissan Sentra in early October 2012. It is not known if either of the drivers were under the influence of alcohol. Police say that while attempting to flee the scene of the crash, the famous chef lost control of his vehicle and ran into a utility pole and a pedestrian standing nearby. The victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was a husband and father of a one-year-old baby girl. Friends and family remember him as “always happy and dancing…and showing off his daughter.” It is not known why police waited more than eight months to make an arrest.
While sidewalks may be considered safe public spaces for pedestrians, many injuries and fatalities nevertheless occur when motorists lose control of their vehicles and leave the roadway. A personal injury attorney may be able to help victims of such incidents and their families determine if they have a strong case against a negligent or impaired driver. The attorney may determine an appropriate amount of compensation based on the extent of the injuries and other factors and examine the details of their cases in order to pinpoint liability.
Source: CBS local Miami, “Miami chef charged in accident released from jail“, June 30, 2013