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Arrests Made In Deadly Dania Beach Hit & Run

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DANIA BEACH (CBSMiami) – A mother is speaking out Tuesday after the man accused of running down her two boys—leaving one for dead and the other critically injured—was arrested.

The news of 22-year-old Zachary Benjamins arrest brings a hint of closure to Selena Brown, the mother of the two young boy hit in Dania Beach.

"I finally got justice. I can rest in peace," said Brown.

Deputies also arrested Benjamins' girlfriend Anaee Barbeito for Insurance fraud, tampering with evidence and accessory after the fact.

Anaee Barbeito
Anaee Barbeito (Courtesy: Broward Sheriff's Office)

Apollo Brown, Jr., 8, and Kelvron Florence, 14, were struck on December 8th, at 100 Bryan Road while walking home from a basketball game

Both were taken to Memorial Regional Hospital in critical condition.

CLICK HERE Watch Summer Knowles' report. 

On Friday, December 19th, Apollo was declared dead. Meantime, his brother is still in the hospital. Kelvron is awake but is not speaking and suffered spinal damage. He has no idea his little brother has died.

" His eyes are open but he's not speaking. He cries and I pray he recovers," said Brown. "Even though I lost a child I still have one I'm holding on to. I just ask each and every one to continue to pray."

After a two week search, including a raise in reward money for information leading to the driver of the Toyota Tacoma that allegedly hit the boy's arrest, Nicolas Peppi helped investigators crack the case.

"It doesn't bring back their family but whatever helps them out we're glad to help out," said Peppi, owner of Atlantic Coast Auto Collision.

Benjamins, according to Broward Sheriff's Office, turned his damaged Tacoma over to his insurance company for repairs. The car was then taken to Atlantic Coast Auto Collision body shop for an estimate.

Monday afternoon, the shop's owners looked at the damage and recognized the car was connected to the crime.

"The truck we had was missing the same parts as the vehicle they were looking for. We started thinking something might be suspicious with this vehicle," said Peppi.

In bond court, Benjamins told a judge he just moved to South Florida from California less than a year ago. He also said he was bartender.

The attorney for the state said Benjamins confessed to the hit and run after being taken into custody. Also, he admitted that he had been drinking.

"He indicated that he had been drinking that night he left the scene he knew the serious nature of the crime," the attorney said.

Benjamins has been charged with failure to remain at an accident scene involving a death, failure to stop at an accident scene involving a serious injury and tampering with evidence.

Benjamins is being held on $350,000 bond and will be placed on house arrest.  His lawyer said he will try to get Benjamins' bond reduced.

"He took my son's life away. I hope the driver's life is taken away," said Brown.

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