A West Palm Beach man is facing five felony counts after police say he bailed on the scene of a serious March 9 crash that injured five people, including three children, at a busy South Dixie Highway intersection.
Officers arrested the driver on June 1 on charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving injury. Investigators allege he was behind the wheel of a Hyundai Sonata that collided with a Ford F-150, then walked away from the wreckage and never came back.
Crash at South Dixie and Acacia
The collision unfolded March 9 at South Dixie Highway and Acacia Road, where the Hyundai and the Ford F-150 slammed into each other. West Palm Beach Fire Rescue reported that the people in the F-150 complained of chest and neck pain and at first turned down a ride to the hospital. According to police records, one passenger has since been in and out of the emergency room, as reported by WPBF 25 News.
Where It Happened
The crash took place along the downtown Dixie Highway corridor, a stretch that has been packed with lane shifts and construction work recently, complicating traffic patterns and, at times, investigations. City notices list Acacia Road among streets affected by closures and projects in recent months, which has changed how drivers move through the intersection, according to the City of West Palm Beach.
Evidence and Identification
Investigators say the Hyundai was registered to Austin S. Bennett. A search of the car turned up a driver’s license, a medical marijuana card, debit cards, cash and a cellphone case that officers say tied back to him. Two adults who were in the F-150 later picked Bennett out in separate photo lineups on May 14. Police also say Bennett contacted a tow company about the damaged Hyundai on April 7, weeks before his June 1 arrest, as detailed by WPBF 25 News.
Charges and Court Steps
Bennett was booked June 1 on five counts of leaving the scene of a crash involving injury and later released after posting $25,000 bond. According to police contact notes, his attorney emailed prosecutors asking to resolve the case with, at most, a notice to appear, while the F-150 occupants told an officer on April 28 they wanted to move forward with criminal prosecution.
Prosecutors will decide whether to file additional charges and set future court dates as the case moves through the system. Police say the investigation remains active and detectives are still tracking down leads. Anyone with video or information tied to the March 9 crash is asked to contact the West Palm Beach Police Department as the case proceeds in court.
