Hector Santiago, Jr. has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted in a traffic homicide case in Hendry County. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison for Leaving the Scene of a Crash – Death, followed by two years community control and 13 years of probation for Vehicular Homicide. He was sentenced to 5 years of probation for No Valid Driver’s License Causing Death. The probation is consecutive to the prison sentence but concurrent to community control.
His driver’s license was permanently revoked. He was also ordered to pay $12,673 restitution to the family and $7500 to the victim compensation trust fund.
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 on a bike with his SUV, killing the 15-year-old. The defendant did not stop to render aid.
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 victim’s DNA was found on the engine of the defendant’s vehicle. The Florida Highway Patrol investigated the case.
Samantha Syoen – State Attorney’s Office Communications Director