Hector Santiago, Jr. has been convicted of Vehicular Homicide, Leaving the Scene of a Crash – Death, and Driving with No Driver’s License Causing Death. The jury returned the guilty verdict this afternoon following a three-day trial in Hendry County.
Assistant State Attorney Martin Stark, of the Traffic Homicide Unit, and Assistant State Attorney Haylie Gutierrez, prosecuted the case.
The crime happened in September 2023. The defendant was driving on Case Road and hit a teenager who was riding his bike, and then drove off. The 15-year-old died from the impact. A surveillance video introduced as evidence at trial shows the teen riding his bike and then shows the defendant’s SUV speeding past a short time later. Witnesses also saw the crash happen and saw the vehicle flee.
The black box from the vehicle showed the SUV was traveling at more than 75 miles per hour and never braked immediately after the collision. The defendant’s vehicle sustained major damage to the right front corner. A tipster called law enforcement about the damaged vehicle, after the accident and search for the driver, was made public.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated the case. The victim’s DNA was found on the engine of the defendant’s vehicle.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 12, 2025.
Samantha Syoen – State Attorney’s Office Communications Director