A somber courtroom atmosphere marked the fate of Alexis Omar Leon Lima as he was sentenced to a 10-year prison term yesterday for his role in a fatal hit-and-run incident in Orlando. The crash, which occurred on September 17, 2023, claimed the life of 19-year-old Latrell Anderson, described by friends as an altruistic Valencia College student with aspirations in nursing. ClickOrlando reported that Lima had pled guilty to charges, including leaving the scene of a crash involving death and injury and driving without a license leading to death.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Lima was driving a 2005 Ford Expedition that lost control and veered off the road. The vehicle struck a pole, rotated, and then collided with Anderson, who was on the sidewalk near the Henao Contemporary Center, and a parked 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The chaos of the crash also resulted in an unnamed Orlando woman, who was within the vicinity of the center, suffering minor injuries after being struck by debris. Orlando News detailed that witnesses saw Lima and several others fleeing the scene westbound towards John Young Parkway, only for Lima to be apprehended hours later by authorities.
Surveillance video captured the incident's aftermath, showing the SUV slamming into the Henao Contemporary Center during what appeared to be an event. Anderson’s best friend, Sanae Knowles, spoke to ClickOrlando, sharing that Anderson "thought of helping people more than himself" in tribute to his compassionate character.
