Ruskin Driver Leaves Crash, Speeding Biker Injured: Police

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — A 21-year-old Ruskin man was arrested after he was in a crash with a motorcyclist on Interstate 75 early Sunday morning, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

A 32-year-old man from Pennsylvania sped his motorcycle on I-75 southbound about 2:45 a.m. near milepost 243. He crashed into the back of a car driven by the Ruskin driver, Marquez Roberts, and was thrown from his motorcycle.

Investigators said Roberts initially stopped, but drove away shortly after. Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies said his car was being towed by AAA in a parking lot near McDonald's on State Road 674 as the officers arrived.

Detectives located Roberts at his Ruskin home later. Troopers arrested him on charges for leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, Roberts was scheduled to stand trial Wednesday in a fatal drug ripoff, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The news outlet reported that Roberts was free on $104,000 bond while awaiting trial on a charge of murder with a firearm in connection with a July 2018 shooting death outside a South Tampa McDonald’s restaurant.

The crash closed the southbound lanes of I-75 from Big Bend Road to Sun City Center until 7:30 a.m. Sunday.

The condition of the motorcyclist was last reported as critical by authorities.