LARGO — A 44-year-old St. Petersburg man has been charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death and driving under the influence following a fatal hit-and-run crash Saturday night on Seminole Boulevard.
According to Largo Police Department arrest affidavits, the crash occurred at approximately 10:59 p.m. on June 6 along northbound Seminole Boulevard just south of 8th Avenue Southeast.
Investigators say Raman Pantsialeyenka, 44, was driving a red 2024 Honda Accord northbound on Seminole Boulevard when he struck a man who was operating an electric skateboard. The victim suffered fatal injuries as a result of the crash.
Police allege Pantsialeyenka failed to stop and continued driving away from the scene. A short time later, Largo police officers located the damaged Honda Accord in the parking lot of the Wawa convenience store on Missouri Avenue, just north of Rosery Road, approximately 1.26 miles from the crash scene.
Investigators noted the vehicle had significant front-end damage and a shattered windshield. An independent witness later positively identified Pantsialeyenka as the driver during a field show-up.
According to the affidavit, Pantsialeyenka initially denied being involved in a crash after being advised of his rights. However, investigators say he later admitted he had struck the victim and left the scene because he was afraid he would be arrested for driving under the influence.
During the investigation, officers observed several signs of impairment, including slurred speech, bloodshot and watery eyes, poor balance, and the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath.
Police said Pantsialeyenka admitted to consuming alcohol and feeling impaired before performing poorly on field sobriety exercises.
Breath samples later provided by Pantsialeyenka registered 0.158 and 0.162, according to the arrest affidavit, nearly twice Florida’s legal limit of 0.08.
Pantsialeyenka was arrested and booked into the Pinellas County Jail on charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving death and DUI with a breath alcohol level of 0.15 or higher.
The identity of the victim has not yet been publicly released by authorities.
The investigation remains ongoing.