INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A driver accused of striking a pedestrian — and knocking him into a canal — has been caught after a witness to the crash continued following the suspect vehicle.
The Florida Highway Patrol arrested 69-year-old Ronald Emmett Sanson of Vero Beach Saturday evening following the collision in the 1300 block of 27th Avenue.
The pedestrian, who was only identified as being a male, was found breathing but unconscious and was airlifted to an area hospital to be treated for undisclosed injuries. He had originally been taken to the Indian River Medical Center.
According to FHP, Sanson struck the pedestrian, sending the man into a canal. Sanson then continued driving. FHP said Sanson told investigators that he thought he had struck a raccoon, which is why he didn’t stop.
A witness saw the crash, reported it, and followed the driver, getting Sanson to pull over in the Citrus Elementary parking lot, which is where the Sheriff’s Office located Sanson.
Sanson was arrested and subsequently released from the county jail on $2,000 bond. He faces a misdemeanor charge of leaving the scene of an accident involving injury.
