Orange County

Man arrested in fatal hit-and-run crash that happened last year, deputies say

Christian Ponce (Orange County Jail/Orange County Jail)
(Orange County Jail/Orange County Jail)

ORLANDO, Fla. — A driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash that happened last year was arrested Friday, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said it arrested Christian Ponce, 28.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the crash happened July 4, 2019, at 3:05 a.m. on Orange Blossom Trail and 41st Street.

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A car fled from an attempted traffic stop traveling over 100 mph, troopers said. As the vehicle traveled northbound on OBT, it struck three pedestrians in the roadway.

Troopers said the pedestrians were assisting a pedestrian who was struck from a separate crash.

The driver fled the scene after striking the pedestrians, troopers said.

Officials said Damion Bradford, 33, died in the crash.

After numerous tips, troopers said the car was located at an apartment complex the next day.

Investigators said they spent the next several months uncovering who was inside the car.

Ponce was identified and charged with leaving the scene of a fatal crash, vehicular homicide and operating a vehicle without a valid license causing the death of someone.

Katlyn Brieskorn

Katlyn Brieskorn, WFTV.com

Katlyn Brieskorn is a Digital Assignment Editor at WFTV. She joined Channel 9 in July 2019.

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