A late-night hit-and-run in Lake Mary left one person dead and a 22-year-old Longwood man in custody Wednesday, police said. Officers identified the driver as O'Vante O'Lan Redding and said he faces multiple felony counts after they found the victim unresponsive at the scene.
Crash Reported Near West Lake Mary Boulevard
Lake Mary police responded around 11 p.m. Tuesday to the intersection of West Lake Mary Boulevard and Wheelhouse Lane, where officers found an unresponsive person who later died, according to WFTV. Investigators then located a suspect and his vehicle a short time later near West Lake Mary Boulevard and Forest Boulevard and detained the driver, the station reports.
Felony Counts and Jail Booking
Per FOX 35 Orlando and jail records, Lake Mary police identified the driver as Redding, 22, of Longwood. FOX 35 reports he was booked into the John E. Polk Correctional Facility and faces charges including DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of a crash involving death and vehicular homicide.
How the Charges Stack Up Under State Law
Those counts carry steep penalties under Florida law. The state's DUI statute, §316.193, treats a death caused by an impaired driver as DUI manslaughter and provides for felony sentencing and minimum terms in serious cases, and vehicular homicide is defined under §782.071 as a felony with its own sentencing ranges, according to the Florida Senate.
Detectives Tight-Lipped as Case Moves Forward
Police are withholding the victim's name as detectives continue to investigate, and authorities say Redding is expected to make his initial court appearance Thursday afternoon, WFTV reports. Lake Mary police have not released further details while detectives collect evidence and interview witnesses.
