A Tampa community is grappling with the aftermath of a fatal incident involving a pedestrian and a suspected drunk driver. The driver, identified as 27-year-old Pjeter Nesti Paci, hit the 35-year-old male pedestrian in SoHo, Tampa, over a week ago, and has been charged with DUI manslaughter, according to FOX 13 News.
The collision occurred after Paci was seen driving out of a SoHo shopping plaza at Howard Avenue and Horatio Street in his 2013 Chevrolet HD2500 truck. The Tampa Police Department has stated that Paci failed to fully stop before the truck entered the roadway shortly after 2:45 a.m. on October 22. This negligence led directly to the pedestrian, who was near the edge of the street, being struck, as reported by WFLA.
Responding to the scene, emergency services transported the injured man to a local hospital where he succumbed to life-threatening injuries. Paci, on his part, remained at the site of the crash until authorities arrived. However, it was not until nearly a week later that the arrest was made. On Friday, Paci was detained in Pinellas County and is currently awaiting transfer to the Orient Road Jail in Tampa, as detailed by Tampa Bay Times.
While this case continues to unfold, the recent arrest has brought to light once again the perils of driving under the influence and the devastating consequences such actions can have on innocent bystanders. A thorough investigation into the events that transpired in the early hours of October 22 is still ongoing. More details are expected to be released as they become available.
