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A man and his father were arrested months after the former allegedly hit a bicyclist while driving in Fort Lauderdale, killing him, and fled the scene.
Pedro Vasallo II, 24, is charged with failing to stop/remain at an accident involving death and leaving the scene of a crash involving death. Pedro Vasallo Sr., 64, is accused of accessory after the fact of a first-degree felony.
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WATCH HEREThe crash happened at around 6:08 a.m. on Dec. 14, 2024, when police said a bicyclist was found in the right lane of Davie Boulevard where it intersects with the Interstate 95 northbound entrance ramp.
The victim, whose name has not been released, had been hit by a car that did not stop, police said. He was taken to the hospital by Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue and later pronounced dead.
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Video of the scene showed a mangled bicycle and helmet discarded on the roadway.
Authorities found that the striking vehicle had left a piece of its front bumper, showing the car's silver color, and pieces of the front headlight assembly behind.
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Surveillance cameras helped identify a silver 2019 Mercedes Benz as the suspect vehicle, which was registered to two women at the same Plantation address.
A Fort Lauderdale police investigator went to that home, but no one answered the door, the affidavit states. He also tried the house across the street, which a neighbor said belonged to family members, but no one there answered either.
Within the hour, a silver Lexus RX 350 arrived in the driveway of the first home. The detective rang the doorbell again, and this time a man answered the door who identified himself as the family's attorney, according to the affidavit.
The investigator asked to see the silver Mercedes, and the attorney took him to the backyard of the house across the street, where "numerous vehicles were being stored."
The Mercedes allegedly had damage to its right front corner, hood and windshield area, which was consistent with the crime.
Doorbell camera also allegedly captured a woman to whom the vehicle was registered telling another woman that "Gordy" had hit someone on a bicycle. She later told police that this was a nickname for Vasallo, who "came home and told her he was involved in a crash."
Vasallo Sr. was allegedly caught on camera moving the car into the backyard of the house across the street after his son arrived home.
Police said there is probable cause that Vasallo "was the driver of the [involved] 2019 silver Mercedes, he knew he was involved in a crash that resulted in a death, and he failed to remain on scene and provide identifying information and/or render aid."
Vasallo was arrested Tuesday and booked into jail. Records showed his bond was set at $70,000.
