Jewelry Heir Charged in Fatal Fort Lauderdale Hit and Run Car Accident that Killed Two British Visitors
The son of a wealthy Chicago area family is being held without bail in a Broward County, Florida jail in connection with a hit and run pedestrian car accident last year that left two British businessmen dead.
According to news reports, Ryan LeVin, 35, was arrested at his condominium on South Ocean Lane in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Levin is the son of a wealthy Illinois family in the jewelry business. He became the subject of media attention surrounding his involvement in a fatal Fort Lauderdale hit-and-run motor vehicle accident that occurred in Feb. 2009.
Police stated that LeVin's Porsche sports car was driving along State Road A1A near Fort Lauderdale beach when it jumped the curb, striking and killing two British businessmen as they walked to their hotel. Pedestrian accident victims Craig Elford, 39, and Kenneth Watkinson, 48, were in America recruiting staff for their pharmaceutical business. LeVin has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide as well as leaving the scene of an accident causing death. LeVin, whom the media reports has a long history of multiple traffic violations, has denied being behind the wheel at the time of the accident. His friend, Derek Cook, surrendered to authorities this week and has been charged with being an accessory for helping LeVin hide the damaged Porsche, as well as for aggravated fleeing and eluding.
Florida Pedestrian-Car Accident Statistics
Fort Lauderdale, Florida hit and run injury lawyers are familiar with state and federal laws designed to keep pedestrians and bicyclists safe on our streets and roadways. The LeVin case has received considerable media attention due to the wealth and status of the accused driver; it is one Florida pedestrian traffic accident among many more that add up to 490 pedestrians being killed in Florida in one year (2008 statistic from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). In addition, NHTSA reports that...
- Nationally, one in five pedestrian-car accident fatalities is caused by a hit-and-run driver
- Of the 10 most dangerous cities in the country for pedestrian traffic accident injury and fatality, 5 are located in Florida
(Source: NHTSA Technical Report, Pedestrian Roadway Fatalities, April 2003)
For background on the case, see previous blog entry: Lawsuit Filed in Fatal Fort Lauderdale Hit and Run Pedestrian Accident
Hit-and-run suspect Ryan LeVin ordered held without bail
Sun-Sentinel.com March 17, 2010
US heir Ryan LeVin charged over deaths of Britons
The Independent March 17, 2010
Porsche driver jailed in Florida hit-and-run
ChicagoBreakingNews.com March 17, 2010
