Good Samaritan Leads Police To Deadly Hit & Run Suspect In SoBe
MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) –The suspect in a deadly Miami Beach hit and run accident bonded out of jail Monday night.
Karlie Tomica, 20 is charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving death. She ran from cameras and didn't answer any questions as she left jail.
Police credit a quick-thinking Good Samaritan for making such a quick arrest.
Early Monday morning, a sheet was used to cover the body of 49-year old Stefano Riccioletti who was struck and killed at Collins and 18th Street while trying to cross the street in front of the Shelborne Resort.
"This person not only saw what happened they followed the car, gave a play-by-play to the 911 operator and we were able to locate the vehicle and place her in custody," explained Miami Beach Police Sgt. Bobby Hernandez.
She was taken into custody in the 5600 block of Collins Avenue.
"In a lot of these cases we eventually find them, obviously this witness helped us out tremendously, said Sgt. Hernandez.
The family of Stefano Riccioletti was too distraught to speak, but shared a photo of Riccioletti with his two young children.
Lucy Martin, General Manager of the nearby Shore Club, said Riccioletti worked them as a chef.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. He was a valued member of our team and will be greatly missed," said Martin.
Police said Tomica may have been drinking before the accident so they are waiting on toxicology results. Tomica could be hit with DUI charges depending on those results.
"That they didn't even stop, that's shocking," said tourist Cynthia Laprarie. "That's very, very scary."
"There's no reason for that," said tourist Dan Hernandez. "I mean if you do something stupid like hit somebody, I've seen on the news many, many times where somebody has hit someone and it wasn't their fault, they don't get charges against the person if someone ran a red light, wearing all dark clothes, couldn't see them and they let them go but they stop so who knows why this person ran."
