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April 14, 2018

A police search for the driver behind a hit-and-run incident in Melbourne ended in an unusual manner earlier on Friday after the victim in the case recognized the perpetrator while receiving treatment at local hospital.  The official report from the Melbourne Police Department recounted how the incident, which happened very early on Friday morning, took place.  It also included the circumstances surrounding the identification and arrest of the individual believed to be responsible.

Shortly after 4:00 in the morning, a motorcyclist was driving down South Babcock Street in Melbourne when they reached the intersection of South Babcock Street and Brevard Avenue.  For reasons that are not clear, it was while stopped at this intersection that the motorcyclist became involved in an argument with the 21-year-old driver of a four-door Kia.  While the instigating circumstances of the argument are not known, it seems that the interaction became incredibly heated and that the Kia then pursued the motorcyclist throughout the Melbourne section of South Babcock Street.

It was when the two vehicles neared 14 South Babcock Street that the driver of the Kia accelerated and struck the rear of the motorcycle.  Due to the force of the impact, the front bumper of the car became inextricably wedged against the bike’s back tire.  The motorcyclist was unable to free their motorcycle from the car, and eventually they lost control of their bike and were thrown to the ground, where they suffered injuries to their stomach, face, and one of their hands.

The driver of the Kia decided to speed away from the area, leaving the motorcyclist in an unknown condition.

Someone, it is not clear whom, called 9-1-1, and soon the biker was being admitted into a nearby hospital to receive treatment for their injuries.  It was while they were in their hospital bed that the motorcyclist recognized another patient in the hospital.  According to the report, the person recognized by the motorcyclist was the driver of the Kia who had struck them.  The accused individual was in the hospital for a reason not relating to the accident between them and the motorcycle, and after the biker made the identification the police were able to support the claim given other pieces of evidence they obtained.

The individual identified at the hospital was arrested and charged with use of a deadly weapon in aggravated battery.  She is currently being held at the Brevard County Jail Complex.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.

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Orange County:
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500 Delaney Avenue #404
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: 407-425-2000

Seminole County:
Lake Mary, FL

300 International Parkway #100
Lake Mary, FL 32746
Phone: 407-487-4408

Osceola County:
Kissimmee, FL

17 S. Orlando Ave.
Kissimmee, FL 34741
Phone: 407-966-4408

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Daytona Beach, FL

1301 Beville Rd., Suite 8
Daytona Beach, FL 32119
Phone: 386-243-4994

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DeBary, FL

465 Summerhaven Drive, Suite C
DeBary, FL 32713
Phone: 386-320-3911

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Deland, FL

120 South Woodland Blvd.
Deland, FL 32720
Phone: 386-206-1264

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Inverness, FL

110 North Apopka Ave.
Inverness, FL 34453
Phone: 352-205-4341

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Lakeland, FL

1102 S. Florida Ave., Suite 104
Lakeland, FL 33803
Phone: 863-968-7551

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Winter Haven, FL

325 Avenue A, N.W.
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-968-7173

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Tampa, FL

100 S. Edison St. Suite D
Tampa, FL 33606
Phone: 813-355-9772

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The Villages, FL

3420 U.S. Hwy. 27/441
Fruitland Park, FL 34731
Phone: 352-419-0825

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Mt. Dora, FL

Mt. Dora, FL
Phone: 352-436-4696

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Clermont, FL

3721 S Hwy 27, Suite A
Clermont, FL 34711
Phone: 352-503-4674

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Titusville, FL

506 S. Palm Ave.
Titusville, FL 32780
Phone: 321-222-7300

Brevard County:
Cocoa, FL

96 Willard Street, Suite 206
Cocoa, FL 32922
Phone: 321-757-1373

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  • I was involved in a motor vehicle accident where the other driver ran a red light and my car was a total loss. I was referred to James Cunningham due to the fact that our attorney’s have been very impressed with James Cunningham’s work. This fact turned out to be very true… A Personal Injury Client
  • My car accident case was handled by Mr Cunningham and I was very pleased with how everything was done. He handles his own cases and his staff is top notch. He got me a very nice settlement without going to court. Derek
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