A North Miami pedestrian was left with a serious head wound Monday afternoon after police say a 19-year-old behind the wheel of a Dodge Charger hit him and took off near a busy shopping strip on Northeast 125th Street just before 1 p.m.
Police identified the driver as Samuel Shiete O’Reilly, 19, who is charged with leaving the scene of a crash causing serious bodily injury, according to Local 10. Records show O’Reilly was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond was set at $2,500.
The crash unfolded along a short commercial stretch that includes a cluster of small businesses and eateries. Business listings place Jimmy’s Diner at 510 NE 125th Street in the same complex, according to Groupon, an area that typically sees steady foot traffic during the lunch hour.
Investigators say a white Dodge Charger hit a man who was trying to cross the street shortly before 1 p.m., and cellphone video captured the moment of impact as the car kept heading east, according to Local 10. Medics rushed the victim to HCA Florida Aventura Hospital, where an arrest report described his injury as a “severe laceration to the top of his head.”
Roughly two hours after the collision, officers found the Charger and O’Reilly back in the shopping center’s parking lot near Jimmy’s Diner, the arrest report states. O’Reilly allegedly told police he had returned to the scene to check on the victim and claimed the crash happened while he was chasing a client who had not paid for services. According to the report, he admitted that during that pursuit he struck the pedestrian and, out of “fear and uncertainty,” fled without stopping.
What the law says
Under Florida law, leaving the scene of a crash that causes serious bodily injury is a felony. The statute spells out a driver’s duty to stop, remain on scene and render aid, and defines what counts as “serious bodily injury.” It also allows for tougher charges, including aggravated fleeing or eluding, when a driver’s actions result in serious harm, provisions detailed in the Florida Statutes.
Next steps
O’Reilly remains in custody while investigators and prosecutors review the arrest report, video and any witness statements gathered at the scene. The report does not indicate his occupation or whether additional charges are on the table, and North Miami police have not yet released any further updates in the case.
