Officers from the St. Petersburg Police Department continue investigating a crash that left a 13-year-old dead and a motorcyclist with serious injuries.
Although arrests have been made in this case, traffic Investigators are still seeking the public’s help. If you are someone with information and may have witnessed this incident, please contact St. Petersburg Police Department Investigator Bond at 727-893-4278.
The crash occurred on Sunday, January 29, 2023, at approximately 12:35 a.m.
Based on preliminary information, 20-year-old Carlos Fernandez was operating a 2017 Suzuki GSX motorcycle southbound on 28th Street North when he struck a pedestrian near 110th Avenue North.
VIDEO – Just prior to collision
The pedestrian, 13-year-old Ethan Martin, died at the scene from his injuries. Fernandez was transported to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg with serious injuries and listed in critical but stable condition.
Based on the investigation, Martin was walking across 28th Street North from east to west toward where a group was gathered for illegal street racing.
Investigators determined a second person, Erick Borlasca, was injured after the motorcycle crashed into Ethan Martin.
Borlasca sustained a serious injury and transported himself to a local hospital in stable condition.
According to SPPD, on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, Johnny Julio Martin, age 35, the father of 13-year-old Ethan Martin, was arrested and charged with Child Neglect (Felony) resulting in death and Street Racing as a Spectator (moving violation citation)
Johnny Julio Martin brought his son Ethan to attend the event. The teen crossed 28th Street into the path of a motorcycle traveling in excess of 100 m.p.h.
On Wednesday, February 15, 2023, two additional people were charged in the January 29th death. Carlos Fernandez, now age 21, the driver of the motorcycle, and his uncle 31-year-old Allan Boreland Jr., the motorcycle owner. Fernandez and Boreland Jr. turned themselves into the Pinellas County Jail last evening. According to arrest documents, in 2021, Fernandez was involved in two separate crashes on a motorcycle owned by Boreland Jr.
Carlos Fernando Fernandez- Driver of the Motorcycle:
Culpable Negligence – Manslaughter (2nd-degree Felony), Vehicular Homicide (3rd-degree Felony), Reckless Driving (3rd-degree Felony) Causing the Serious Bodily Injury of bystander Erick Borlasca, Street Racing (Misdemeanor), Operating a motorcycle Without an Endorsement (Misdemeanor)
Allan Jason Boreland Jr- Owner of the Motorcycle:
Culpable Negligence – Manslaughter (Felony), Street Racing as a Spectator (Moving Violation)
