LAKELAND —A driver accused of fleeing after twice running over an e-bike rider chose to self-deport back to Central America when he realized deputies were closing in, according to Florida investigators.
The collision happened around 5:15 p.m. Thursday, October 9, near Lakeland, and the victim suffered critical injuries, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said in an October 20 news release.
A warrant has been issued for the driver’s arrest, despite evidence indicating he is now in Guatemala, the sheriff’s office said.
“According to multiple witnesses and evidence at the scene, a 28-year-old Lakeland man was riding his electric bicycle westbound inside the fog line of the road when he was struck from behind by what appeared to be a tan Nissan Altima,” the sheriff’s office said.
“The victim was knocked off his bike, and then run over by the car once he was on the ground. Witnesses reported that the driver … got out, looked at the victim, then got back in his car and put the car in reverse, running him over again before fleeing the scene.”
Witnesses provided a tag number for the car, resulting in detectives identifying the driver as 21-year-old Erick Perez De Leon, who is in the country illegally, officials said.
“They contacted the Department of Homeland Security and learned De Leon boarded a plane in Orlando bound for Guatemala on Saturday, October 18th. The plane landed in Guatemala that afternoon,” the sheriff’s office said.
A vehicle believed to belong to De Leon was found near his home in Lakeland and deputies discovered “parts that were left behind at the crash location matched up to parts missing from the car,” officials said.
De Leon is now wanted for felony leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury and felony driving without a valid license/causing serious bodily injury, the sheriff’s office said.
Details of the victim’s current condition were not released.
“We will seek justice for this victim and his family, and work with the proper authorities to bring Erick De Leon back here to face his felony charges,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in the release.
Lakeland is about a 30-mile drive northeast from Tampa.
By MARK PRICE/Charlotte Observer
Mark Price is a National Reporter for McClatchy News. He joined the network of newspapers in 1991 at The Charlotte Observer, covering beats including schools, crime, immigration, LGBTQ issues, homelessness and nonprofits. He graduated from the University of Memphis with majors in journalism and art history, and a minor in geology.
