PINELLAS PARK: Fatal Hit and Run Driver Arrested

After almost one (1) year, police have arrested a St. Petersburg man they say is responsible for a crash that killed a 60-year-old Clearwater man in Pinellas Park last summer.

Anthony Bernard Peterson, 22, of 3627 27th Avenue South, was arrested Friday afternoon on charges of Vehicular Homicide, Leaving the Scene of a Crash involving Death and Driving With License Suspended or Revoked (DWLSR).According to a recent St. Pete Times storuy, police had been searching for him for more than a month and believed he was hiding out in his neighborhood.

According to the Pinellas Park Police Department, Peterson was involved in a hit-and-run crash at about 2:18 a.m. Aug. 24 at the intersection of 49th Street and Park Boulevard.Hours after the accident, Peterson was found at a Manatee County hospital with a broken leg. He admitted to driving a rented Chrysler 300 that blew through a red light and hit a 2001 Toyota, police said.

William Trotter, who was driving the Toyota, died en route to the hospital.

Peterson told police he and his family had been at a birthday party at the Bottom’s Up Gentleman’s Club earlier that night when a shooting occurred in the parking lot.

Peterson said he and his friends quickly left, then panicked after getting into the crash with Trotter, police said.

Peterson was in the Pinellas County Jail Saturday night in lieu of $102,500 bail.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a Hit and Run or any other serious Traffic Offense like DUI Manslaughter, the Blake & Dorsten, P.A. is on your side.

Former State of Florida Traffic Homicide Prosecutor Nicholas J. Dorsten has successfully handled many high-profile Traffic Fatality cases as both a State Prosecutor and now in private in practice.

For more information, or to speak directly with an experienced criminal defense attorney, please contact the Blake & Dorsten, P.A. at 727.286.6141 or email Nicholas at: info@blakedorstenlaw.com

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