An 18-year-old motorcyclist is dead and a St. Petersburg mother is facing a felony charge after police say she took off from a late-night crash with her two children, only to come back about half an hour later.
Crash, Arrest And Charges
According to Tampa Free Press, the collision happened just after 10 p.m. on May 9 in the 3300 block of 38th Avenue North.
Police say 31-year-old Promise Jermeise Burnett was behind the wheel of a gold Toyota Camry when she tried to make a left turn into the path of an eastbound Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R ridden by 18-year-old Yaudel Enrique Rosabal Fernandez. The motorcycle slammed into the passenger side of the Camry.
Rosabal Fernandez was rushed to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital, where he later died from his injuries, authorities said. Burnett and her two children reportedly suffered only minor injuries.
Investigators allege Burnett initially ran from the wreck on foot with the children and did not return to the scene for roughly 30 to 40 minutes, while the injured teen was already at the hospital. She was first arrested on a charge of leaving the scene of a crash causing serious bodily injury. After Rosabal Fernandez died, that charge was amended to reflect a fatality, according to authorities.
What The Law Says
Under Florida law, drivers who willfully leave the scene of a crash that results in death can face a first-degree felony. That charge carries a mandatory minimum prison term of four years, along with driver license revocation and restitution requirements, among other penalties.
Florida Statutes spell out what prosecutors must prove in court in hit-and-run cases that involve injury or death, as well as the sentencing range if a driver is convicted.
Investigation And Next Steps
Police say the investigation is still active and that the charge against Burnett was updated after the motorcyclist died, per Tampa Free Press. The two children were taken to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital to be checked out for minor injuries, authorities reported.
Prosecutors will decide whether to pursue any additional charges once detectives wrap up their work. Court dates, bond information and formal filings were not immediately available.
The St. Petersburg Police Department has said the investigation is ongoing. This story will be updated when official court records or new agency statements are released.
