PALM BAY, Fla. – A Palm Bay man was arrested Wednesday, nearly a year after hitting a man with his car and driving off while high on fentanyl, according to the Palm Bay Police Department.
Emilio Martinez, 54, called 911 the night of July 12, 2021, to report he had hit something on the road and panicked, according to a police report.
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Police were already at the scene of the crash at Garylind Street SW and Degroodt Road SW before Martinez’s call. Investigators said it appeared as though the victim had been hit by at least two vehicles.
The victim was taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne where he later died, police said.
Officers soon responded to Martinez, finding his Ford Mustang with damage to its front bumper, hood and roof. The windshield was also caved-in, records show.
Martinez told police that he stopped after the crash but claimed didn’t see anything on the road, according to the report.
Martinez allowed police to collect blood samples for toxicology analysis, the report stated.
The toxicology tests were completed in November 2021, according to police, and showed alcohol and fentanyl in Martinez’s blood on the night of the crash.
According to the report, a card with Martinez’s name on it was also found at the scene of the crash.
Martinez faces misdemeanor charges of DUI and violation of parole, and a felony charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving death.
His first court appearance was scheduled for Friday at 1:15 p.m.