PINELLAS PARK – Following the investigation of a Dec. 8 fatal hit-and-run accident on the 8900 block of U.S. 19, police arrested and charged Nicholas Kachmar of St. Petersburg with leaving the scene of a crash involving death.
Pinellas Park police identified the victim as Scott Alan Benedict, 48, who is believed to be a transient with no known permanent address. Police say Benedict was struck and killed by a vehicle while attempting to cross U.S. 19 near Mainlands Boulevard. At the time, he was walking and pushing his bicycle.
The driver fled after striking Benedict, who died at the scene. Witnesses told police the driver’s vehicle was an early to mid-2000s model white Ford Explorer.
Investigators say Kachmar, 55, drives a 2001 white Ford Explorer, and they found damage to his SUV that is consistent with evidence found at the scene of the crash.
Kachmar was booked into the Pinellas County Jail. Bond was set at $50,000.
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