ST. PETERSBURG — A 19-year-old St. Petersburg woman has been arrested in connection with an August hit-and-run crash that killed a 37-year-old man riding an electric scooter. Newly released court documents show the driver fled the scene, then returned about 30 minutes later after speaking with her sister.
Jaida Thomas-McFatten, 19, was arrested Tuesday, October 13, 2026, on a warrant charging her with leaving the scene of a crash involving death, a first-degree felony.
The fatal crash occurred at approximately 9:50 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at the intersection of 5th Avenue North and Tyrone Boulevard North.
According to the St. Petersburg Police Department, Thomas-McFatten was driving a black Toyota Camry westbound on 5th Avenue North when 37-year-old Brandon McDwyer, riding a standing electric scooter, tried to cross the roadway from south to north.
Police previously reported that McDwyer crossed outside the designated crosswalk and against the pedestrian walk signal when he entered the westbound curb lane and the Toyota struck him.
The impact threw McDwyer from the scooter, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the arrest warrant, investigators interviewed several witnesses who provided additional details about the moments leading up to the collision.
One witness reported seeing a four-door sedan and a pickup truck traveling westbound on 5th Avenue North, following closely and attempting to pass other vehicles. The witness estimated that the sedan was traveling approximately 50 to 60 mph as it approached Tyrone Boulevard, where it struck McDwyer. The witness also described seeing sparks following the collision.
Another witness outside an apartment near the intersection reported hearing a loud impact and seeing vehicle parts scattered across the roadway. That witness also described seeing a four-door sedan continuing westbound at high speed.
Investigators arriving at the scene found McDwyer’s body near the north curb of 5th Avenue North, while his damaged electric scooter was located a significant distance away. Investigators found scooter debris and other evidence near the suspected point of impact.
The arrest warrant shows that Thomas-McFatten returned to the crash scene about 30 minutes after the collision and told an officer she had been involved.
Investigators located her black Toyota Camry in a nearby church parking lot. According to the warrant, the vehicle had significant front-end damage and a severely damaged windshield with a hole in it. Investigators also observed what appeared to be blood and possibly hair around the damaged portion of the windshield.
After being advised of her Miranda rights, Thomas-McFatten reportedly acknowledged that she was the sole occupant of the Toyota when the crash occurred.
She told investigators that a man riding a scooter suddenly came from the opposite side of the roadway and that she struck him with her vehicle.
According to the warrant, Thomas-McFatten said she panicked and fled into a nearby neighborhood, where she contacted her sister by telephone. Her sister reportedly advised her to return to the crash scene.
After the investigation, a St. Petersburg Police Officer submitted a sworn complaint alleging that Thomas-McFatten willfully failed to remain at the scene, provide required identifying information, and render reasonable assistance after the fatal collision.
A judge signed the arrest warrant on October 8, and the Pinellas County Clerk of Court filed it on October 9. Thomas-McFatten was arrested on October 13 on the felony charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving death.
The case remains pending in Pinellas County Circuit Court.
