Authorities say a Davie man whose car killed a bicyclist this weekend was driving under the influence during a series of hit-and-run collisions across Broward County.
Jose Javier Monserrate-Dural, 28, has since been jailed on 25 criminal and traffic-related counts, including on the charge of DUI with death in the killing of bicyclist Dwight Morrison, 63, of Davie, sheriff’s jail records showed Sunday.
About 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Monserrate-Dural was speeding away from a hit-and-run crash in Davie when his car, eastbound on Griffin Road, struck and killed Morrison, Broward sheriff’s spokeswoman Keyla Concepcion said. Morrison at the time had been out for a bike ride, Concepcion said.
Monserrate-Dural kept driving his eastbound car across a median into the westbound lanes, Concepcion said. His car sideswiped three vehicles before crashing head-on into a fourth, an SUV, Concepcion said.
"I heard people braking, and I just kind of pulled over. And when I pulled over, I saw two vehicles here collided head on," said witness Erika Benitez.
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Other drivers involved in the collisions weren’t seriously injured. Only one of them was taken to Cleveland Clinic for a minor injury, Concepcion said.
Monserrate-Dural, who also had a minor injury, was taken to a hospital. He then was released and jailed, the Sheriff’s Office said.
According to Ramon Rivera, with Seven Brothers Nursery, Davie officers were close behind the driver when the driver struck the bicyclist near Griffin Road and Southwest 184th Avenue in the area of Southwest Ranches.
"He went flying," Rivera said. "And the police were right behind and the next thing I know I hear a crash."
But Davie police say they gave up trying to stop the driver after coming over Interstate 75, nearly a mile before the driver entered Southwest Ranches.
"They were actively trying to stop this vehicle," said Davie police Capt. Dale Engle."He caused some severe damage. At that point we didn't know if there were any injuries. We have an obligation to try to stop this guy from doing something else."
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In addition to the DUI with death charge, Broward sheriff's jail records show Monserrate-Dural also was charged in Saturday's case on counts of:
- DUI alcohol or drugs second offense
- DUI with damage to property of another
- failing to stay at an accident involving a death
- leaving the scene of an accident with property damage
- reckless driving
- violating a driver’s license restriction
- driving across or on a median
- fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement
- driving the wrong side of a roadway
- blocking an intersection or crosswalk
- and disobeying stop signs and a red light
Nearly two years ago, Monserrate-Dural had a DUI case in Davie that resulted in probation, Broward County court records show. The lawyer who represented him at the time couldn't be reached for comment Sunday, despite a message left at the lawyer's listed number.
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