A St. Petersburg man is behind bars after what police describe as a late night hit-and-run crash on Seminole Boulevard in Largo that left a man on an electric skateboard dead. Investigators say the driver hit the skateboarder, kept going and was later tracked down at a nearby convenience store. He is now facing DUI and leaving-the-scene charges and has been booked into the Pinellas County Jail.
Crash, scene and arrest
Arrest affidavits say the collision happened around 10:59 p.m. on June 6 in the northbound lanes of Seminole Boulevard, just south of 8th Avenue Southeast. Investigators say a red 2024 Honda Accord struck a man riding an electric skateboard, then left the area. Officers later found the Honda, visibly damaged, at a Wawa near Missouri Avenue and Rosery Road and detained the driver.
According to the affidavit, the driver told officers he left the crash scene because he was afraid of being arrested for DUI. Breath samples later registered about 0.158 and 0.162, more than twice Florida’s legal limit, according to arrest documents obtained by ION Tampa Bay.
What investigators say the driver admitted
Police identified the driver as 44-year-old Raman Pantsialeyenka of St. Petersburg. He faces charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving death and DUI with a breath-alcohol level of 0.15 or higher. That reporting was first published by the Tampa Bay Times.
Charges and possible penalties
Under Florida law, leaving the scene of a crash that results in death is a first degree felony. It can carry a mandatory minimum prison term and a maximum sentence of up to 30 years. DUI offenses fall under separate statutes that tie legal presumptions and penalties to blood and breath alcohol readings.
The state Legislature’s traffic and DUI statutes spell out what drivers are required to do after a crash and the penalties for leaving or causing injury while impaired. For the exact legal language and sentencing ranges, readers can consult the relevant Florida statutes on motor vehicles and DUI.
Investigation ongoing
The victim’s identity has not been released. Largo police say the investigation is active as detectives collect evidence and speak with witnesses. Local reporting notes the case is under review by prosecutors and that more information will be released as officials make it available. The investigation remains ongoing, according to ION Tampa Bay.
