A tragic incident unfolded in Orlando last night when a pedestrian was struck and fatally wounded during a vehicle pursuit involving the Orlando Police Department, as reported by ClickOrlando. Dornell Bargnare, a 30-year-old resident of Orlando, has been apprehended concerning the incident and is being held on charges of burglary of a dwelling and resisting officers without violence, with the possibility of additional charges as the investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) continues into the hit-and-run encounter.
According to the WFTV report, the incident occurred at around 7 p.m. at the intersection of Rio Grande Avenue and Indiana Street, where Bargnare, piloting a blacked-out 2012 Nissan Altima without headlights or taillights, was evading an unmarked Orlando police Ford F-150 and ended up making a sharp left turn onto Indiana Street, but then ran off the roadway and struck the pedestrian along with a utility pole. In the chaos that followed, the 56-year-old victim was also hit by a front tire of the pursuing Orlando police pickup when it went astray onto the curbed shoulder of the street, according to FHP.
In the aftermath, the pedestrian, whose name has not been disclosed, was transported to a hospital and later pronounced dead. Following the crash, Bargnare reportedly attempted to escape on foot, was observed by helicopter jumping fences, and broke into a residence on Grand Street before surrendering to the police under the guidance of loudspeakers around 10 p.m., the arrest affidavit stated. The driver of the police truck, a 31-year-old Orlando man, did not sustain injuries in the crash.
Bargnare remains in custody, and his initial court appearance is slated for 1 p.m. Channel 9 is actively gathering more details and has pledged to provide further updates as they become available.
