Arrest Made After Fatal St. Pete Motorcycle Hit-and-Run

A driver has been arrested in connection with a St. Petersburg hit-and-run crash that killed a 65-year-old motorcyclist from Pinellas Park, according to WFLA’s report on the arrest.

The crash happened around 1:10 a.m. on September 27, 2026, at 4th Street North and 9th Avenue North. In its initial account of the collision, St. Petersburg Police said a northbound Mercedes SUV turned left in front of a southbound Suzuki motorcycle. Police said the SUV left the scene. The rider died after being taken to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital St. Petersburg.

WFLA later reported that investigators found a Mercedes with damage consistent with the crash and arrested Carlos Briones-Leyva. These are allegations, not findings of guilt. An arrest is not a conviction.

For families facing a loss like this, an arrest can bring some answers while leaving other questions unresolved. Who will pay the medical and funeral bills? What happens to the income and support the person provided? Does the family have to wait for the criminal case to end before seeking legal help?

Florida law allows a separate civil wrongful death claim when another person’s negligence or wrongful conduct caused the death. That claim has its own requirements and deadlines.

How the Criminal Case Differs From a Wrongful Death Claim

The criminal case asks whether the accused committed a crime. The State Attorney prosecutes the case on behalf of Florida, and the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. A conviction can lead to criminal penalties, depending on the offense and circumstances.

A wrongful death lawsuit asks whether someone is legally responsible for the death and what compensation is available for the resulting losses. The estate’s personal representative brings that case for eligible survivors and the estate. In a negligence-based claim, the standard is generally the greater weight of the evidence, a lower burden than the criminal standard. The Florida Bar explains these differences between civil and criminal cases.

A family does not need a criminal conviction to pursue a negligence-based wrongful death claim. At the same time, an arrest does not automatically establish civil liability or the value of a claim. The civil case still needs evidence connecting the defendant’s conduct to the death and documenting the losses.

Leaving the Scene Is a Separate Legal Issue

Florida Statutes section 316.027 requires a driver involved in a fatal crash to stop at or near the scene and remain there to fulfill the duties to provide information and render aid. A willful violation is a first-degree felony. This is the general law, not a conclusion about the accused in this case.

An investigation into a fatal collision also needs to establish what happened before impact. Which vehicle had the right of way? Where was the motorcycle when the SUV began turning? What could each driver see? Leaving the scene does not, by itself, answer those questions.

Our St. Petersburg motorcycle accident attorneys help riders and families examine the evidence needed to understand a collision and pursue a civil claim.

Who Brings the Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Florida’s Wrongful Death Act allows a claim when someone’s death results from conduct that would have entitled them to recover damages had they survived. Section 768.19 expressly allows civil liability even when the circumstances also constitute a felony.

The lawsuit must be brought by the deceased person’s personal representative for the benefit of eligible survivors and the estate, as required by section 768.20. Relatives do not each bring their own wrongful death lawsuit.

Determining who will serve as personal representative and which relatives qualify for recovery is an early part of the process. Our guide to how wrongful death lawsuits work in Florida explains the steps in more detail.

What Losses Can a Family Recover

A fatal crash can leave a household without income, help with everyday responsibilities, and the companionship of someone they love. Florida law recognizes several types of losses, but eligibility depends on the family relationship and the facts.

Under Florida Statutes section 768.21, damages may include:

• Lost financial support and household services.
• A surviving spouse’s loss of companionship and protection, and mental pain and suffering.
• Lost parental companionship, instruction, and guidance, and mental pain and suffering, for children who meet the statutory requirements.
• Medical and funeral expenses, depending on who paid them or became responsible for them.
• Certain lost earnings and prospective estate accumulations, when the statutory conditions are met.

Not every relative qualifies for every category. The claim needs to account for the particular family and the losses the evidence supports.

Do Not Wait for the Criminal Case to Check the Civil Deadline

Families can speak with a wrongful death lawyer while police and prosecutors continue their work. There is no general requirement to wait for a conviction before pursuing a negligence-based claim, although overlapping proceedings can affect the timing of particular litigation steps.

Florida generally gives families two years to bring a wrongful death action, usually measured from the date of death. Section 95.11 includes exceptions, including a narrow provision for certain intentional torts resulting in death. A hit-and-run allegation alone does not establish that an exception applies. Do not assume a pending prosecution pauses the civil deadline.

Getting advice early also gives an attorney an opportunity to seek available video, locate witnesses, and help preserve relevant records before they become harder to obtain.

Talk With Armando Personal Injury Law

If your family has lost someone in a crash, you may be trying to follow the investigation while handling funeral arrangements and calls from insurers. You can ask for help with the civil claim even if you do not yet have all the records or know what happens next.

Our St. Petersburg wrongful death attorneys can review what you know, explain who may bring a claim, and discuss the losses your family and the estate may be able to recover.

Call Armando Personal Injury Law at (727) 300-5000 or request a free consultation.