Fort Lauderdale criminal attorney William Moore and other local Broward County residents have been following the hit-and-run that left two dead last Friday night. Two men, both visiting Fort Lauderdale from England on a business trip, were struck from behind by a vehicle as they walked along a sidewalk on A1A. The pair were walking back to their hotel after an evening out. The men, who have been identified as Craig Elford, 39, and Kenneth Watkinson, 48, were killed instantly. The Porsche that hit the two men drove over the curb, plowed into them, and sped away from the scene. Before the men were killed, other witnesses had dialed 911 to report that the driver of the Porsche GT2 was driving dangerously and aggressively, possibly racing with another car on the road. Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyer Moore advises clients not to engage in highway racing.
Fort Lauderdale police have identified the owner of the vehicle as Ryan LeVin, who is from the Chicago area. LeVin denies that he was driving the Porsche on the evening of the accident. The car was found abandoned shortly after the men were killed. LeVin has vehemently denied that he was driving the vehicle at the time of the hit-and-run and referred all other questions to his criminal defense lawyer. Law enforcement officials have not yet named any suspects in the case, including LeVin. Hit-and-run investigations can take months, as police gather evidence to determine what person was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident. Ownership of a vehicle alone does not prove that person was behind the wheel of the vehicle at any given time.
Investigative reporters have determined that LeVin’s Florida driver’s license and his Illinois driver’s license are both invalid. In 2006, LeVin faced seven felony charges following an arrest for leading police on a high-speed chase. LeVin drove over 100 miles per hour in that incident, hitting several other cars and injuring two drivers and a police officer. When he was apprehended, LeVin was in possession of cocaine in the vehicle. Despite the injuries, LeVin reached a plea deal wherein he pled guilty to one count of aggravated fleeing, was to serve 30 months on probation, and entered treatment for substance abuse. The other six felony charges were dropped. As a condition of his probation, LeVin was permitted to travel to Florida in order to maintain his parents’ two properties in the area.
Fort Lauderdale criminal attorney William Moore extends his sympathies to the families of the victims. Both men were married with young children. They were in south Florida for a six day business trip, planning to hire new employees while they were here. Their families are making arrangements for the funerals.
Fort Lauderdale criminal lawyer William Moore has experience in all kinds of criminal defense, including DUI and marijuana possession. A conviction for a felony or misdemeanor can have permanent consequences concerning your freedom, your employment, and your personal life. If you have been charged with a crime in Florida, contact William Moore, P.A., which is an experienced Fort Lauderdale criminal law firm with offices in Fort Lauderdale-Dade, Broward, and Fort Lauderdale Counties.
This article should be used for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice nor as implied representation of any person.