Clearwater Police Make Arrest in Tuesday’s Hit and Run Crash
Updated: June 6, 2017
Clearwater Police have charged the driver of a pickup who struck a bicyclist and fled the scene Tuesday night.
Clearwater Police and Clearwater Fire & Rescue were called to the intersection of Cleveland Street and Fredrica Avenue about 9:43 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30, 2017
A bicyclist was struck by a pickup which then fled the scene.
Joseph Samson, age 34 of Dunedin, was identified as the injured man. Â He was transported to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg with critical injuries.
Benito Espanol-Cruz, age 33 of Largo was charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving injury. He was booked into the Pinellas County Jail early on June 1, 2017.
Traffic homicide investigators and detectives were able to gather video surveillance and talk to witnesses who identified Espanol-Cruz as the suspect.
He admitted he was the driver of the 1999 Ford F150 that struck Joseph Samson on Tuesday night on Cleveland Street.
The truck was located at the suspect’s place of employment in Largo, covered and concealed behind several other work vehicles. He admitted he had been consuming alcohol before the crash.
According to Clearwater Police, Joseph Samson, the bicyclist died on the morning of Tuesday, June 6, 2017.
It will be up to the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney’s Office to file any upgraded charges.