LARGO, Fla. – A 33-year-old man was arrested and charged with two counts of vehicular homicide related to the fatal crash on January 28, 2024.
The Largo Police Department has arrested Ilia Andoni and charged him with two counts of vehicular homicide related to the crash on January 28, 2024, at the intersection of East Bay Drive and Starkey Rd., which killed two people.
On January 28, 2024, at approximately 5:16 AM, the Largo Police Department Traffic Homicide Unit responded to the intersection of East Bay Dr. and Starkey Rd. in reference to an accident resulting in two fatalities.
Police say a 2016 Silver Mercedes Benz was traveling East on East Bay Dr. at a high rate of speed when a 2014 Black Honda Civic was traveling South on Starkey Rd. The Mercedes Benz was witnessed to have run a light, resulting in the vehicle colliding with the 2014 Honda Civic. As a result, both occupants of the 2014 Honda Civic were declared deceased on the scene.
Impairment was not a factor in the crash.
Following the crash, the Largo Police Department’s Traffic Homicide Investigators began an intensive week-long investigation where officers spoke with eyewitnesses, reviewed multiple video surveillance footages, and conducted follow-up investigations on statements provided.
The Largo Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit worked in conjunction with the State Attorney’s Office to secure multiple search warrants, which resulted in confirming that Andoni was traveling at 92mph at the time of the crash, in a 45mph zone, while running the red light leading to the tragic deaths of
Paulino Trejo-Mendoza, 26, and Ariadna Sanchez Monrroy, 22.
Upon developing probable cause on the afternoon of February 5th and after speaking with the State Attorney’s Office, officers of the Largo and Clearwater Police Departments took Andoni into custody without incident.
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