A West Palm Beach woman was arrested Friday, more than seven months after a pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run at one of Palm Beach County’s busiest intersections. The arrest brings a fresh turn to a January case that began with a fatal collision and a driver leaving the scene.
According to CBS12, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested 31-year-old Beatrice Telisca on Friday in connection with the death of 26-year-old Gage Chidester. Chidester was pronounced dead at the scene, and the traffic report listed him as homeless.
The crash happened around 10:25 p.m. Jan. 24 at Jog Road and Okeechobee Boulevard. WPBF reported that Telisca was driving a 2022 Nissan Altima northbound while Chidester crossed westbound in a marked crosswalk against the pedestrian signal.
Investigators Say Driver Left After Impact
As outlined in Hoodline’s earlier report, investigators said the car struck Chidester with its front right side, throwing him onto the vehicle’s fender and windshield before he fell into the northbound lane. Deputies said Telisca slowed immediately after the impact but continued northbound instead of stopping.
Traffic investigators later located Telisca at her West Palm Beach residence, where CBS12 reported that she gave a sworn statement acknowledging she had been driving. The station’s report did not identify the specific charges or list a court date connected to the arrest.
The Friday arrest is the first major public update described in reports since the January collision. The case now moves forward after a months-long traffic investigation into the crash that killed Chidester and initially left the driver’s whereabouts under scrutiny.
