A Florida woman has been arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run after striking a man on a motorbike in West Melbourne, Florida, police said.
Rebecca Mackenzie Tate, 23, is accused of hitting a 34-year-old motorcyclist so hard in the early hours of Sunday morning that the driver's helmet was blown off and he was left stranded in the middle of the road.
Tate, who describes herself as a professional ballroom dancer, harpist and pianist on Instagram, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident causing serious injury and tampering with evidence in a criminal case, according to jail records.
“Tate does not remain at the scene or call 911 and is seen driving away with the motorcycle still attached to the front of his vehicle,” a news release from West Melbourne Police Station said.
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A Florida woman has been arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run after striking a man on a motorbike in West Melbourne, Florida, police said. (West Melbourne Police Station)
Police said she then parked her car in a parking lot and was seen on surveillance video attempting to retrieve her motorcycle from underneath the car before being picked up by someone in another vehicle.
She was booked into the Brevard County Jail on $17,500 bail Wednesday and was released on bond Friday while awaiting trial.
Tate pleaded not guilty Thursday. New York Post.
A woman who identified herself as the victim's mother was at the police station. Facebook Post Regarding the arrest.
“I don't care what her situation is,” she wrote. “She left my son to die in the middle of the road. She was caught on video tampering with evidence and trying to cover up. My son was in intensive care on a ventilator.”
Rebecca Mackenzie Tate, 23, is pictured at the time of her arrest. (West Melbourne Police Station)
She added that it may take six months to a year for her son to “walk normally again, if that ever happens. I have no sympathy for this woman and look forward to seeing her make amends for what she did to my son.”
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“It was a big shock,” said DoorDash driver Billy LeBlanc, who found the victim lying in the road after the crash. Fox 35 He helped the victim until emergency services arrived.
“I wouldn't wish that on anyone, but I'm glad I was there and was able to help him,” LeBlanc told the station. “I'm glad they caught her.”
He told WKMG-TV, “I hope that if anybody comes across something like that, and I think most people would, it's just sad that someone would actually just leave them there and not move, not help.”
He said Tate was “clearly scared” after hitting the victim and should have at least called 911.
Police said surveillance video showed the suspect attempting to remove the motorcycle from under the car before an individual in another vehicle came to his aid. (West Melbourne Police Station)
“I'm glad I was there at the right time and I was able to help him,” LeBlanc said. “I'm glad he's alive. She hit him hard, so he's obviously a strong guy.”
He told WKMG that he told the victim to “stay strong. I just told him, 'Keep going. An ambulance is on the way. Just stay strong.' He's fighting.”
FOX 35 identified the victim as John Powell, citing friends.
Powell's friend, Leah Lindstrand, was in disbelief.
“She let him die. How could she do that?” she told FOX 35. “He basically can't use his legs. He has one major fracture in his left leg and one in his right leg. You can see he has broken ribs as well. It was heartbreaking to see that, but I'm glad he's on the mend.”
Powell had been released from the ICU by Thursday, FOX35 reported.
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Tate is due to appear in court again on October 1.
