PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – A left turn ended in tragedy Saturday night on Handcart Road when an SUV collided with a motorcycle, leaving one person dead, another seriously injured, and a 70-year-old driver behind bars after fleeing the scene.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the incident occurred around 11:12 p.m. on Saturday. A Honda CRV was traveling northbound on Handcart Road when the driver made a left turn at the intersection of Old Bridge Road. The maneuver placed the SUV directly into the path of a southbound Yamaha motorcycle operated by a 31-year-old Zephyrhills man.
The motorcycle struck the SUV, and the impact ejected both the operator and his passenger, a 32-year-old Zephyrhills woman. Both individuals suffered serious injuries and were rushed to a local area hospital, where the 31-year-old motorcyclist later died from his injuries.
State troopers reported that the driver of the Honda CRV failed to remain at the intersection after the fatal impact. Instead, he fled the crash site and drove to his residence.
FHP troopers tracked the driver down at his home later that night. Investigators identified him as Jaykumar Chaturbhai Patel, 70, of Wesley Chapel.
Patel was arrested and transported to the Pasco County Jail. He faces multiple criminal charges, including leaving the scene of a crash involving death, leaving the scene involving injuries, and leaving the scene involving property damage.
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