West Palm Beach police are hunting for a dirt-bike rider who took off after a late-night wheelie went sideways and slammed into a pedestrian, leaving the victim with serious injuries.
The hit-and-run collision happened around 11 p.m. Saturday near Georgia Avenue and Monceaux Road. Investigators say surveillance video shows the rider pulling a wheelie right as the pedestrian is struck. The rider kept going and never came back, according to police. The injured pedestrian was taken to a hospital with serious injuries.
Detectives have released a physical description of the rider and the bike and are asking neighbors, drivers and businesses in the area to check any cameras that might have caught the crash or the suspect speeding away.
What police say
According to WPEC/CBS12, surveillance footage shows the rider performing a wheelie at the moment of impact. The dirt bike is believed to be a black 2025 Sur-Ron model, and investigators say it likely has visible damage to the front and side from the crash.
Police described the suspect as a tall man who wears a size 14 shoe. Officers responded to the scene after 11 p.m. and the victim was transported to a hospital with serious injuries, per the station.
A recurring downtown problem
The crash did not come out of nowhere for downtown West Palm Beach residents, who have been complaining for months about packs of dirt bikes and ATVs treating city streets like a stunt course.
WPTV has reported on videos and resident complaints showing groups of unlicensed, unregistered off-road machines rumbling through downtown without helmets, turn signals or much apparent concern for traffic laws. Riders have been recorded popping wheelies and weaving through traffic, frustrating neighbors and drivers who say it is only a matter of time before something goes very wrong.
Police have warned they will impound off-road vehicles and arrest riders who break traffic laws, but officers also acknowledge that enforcement is tough when groups scatter quickly through city streets.
How to help
Anyone who recognizes the rider or the Sur-Ron-style bike, or who has video from around Georgia Avenue and Monceaux Road on Saturday night, is urged to contact the detective on the case at 561-310-7412.
Tipsters can also reach Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County anonymously at 1-800-458-8477, according to WPEC/CBS12. Police say security camera footage from homes, businesses and passing cars can be crucial to identifying the rider and tracking down the damaged bike. Tips could help lead to recovery of the dirt bike and potential charges if the suspect is found.
Possible legal consequences
Under the Florida Statutes, a driver who willfully leaves the scene of a crash that causes serious bodily injury can face a felony charge. The law calls for mandatory license revocation and allows courts to order prison time and restitution, depending on the details of the case.
Whether prosecutors ultimately pursue felony hit-and-run charges in this incident will depend on what the investigation uncovers, including any surveillance video and witness statements that help identify the rider and spell out what happened in those few seconds on Georgia Avenue.
