Child Hospitalized After Hit-And-Run Crash In Poinciana; Charges Filed

POINCIANA, FL — A 66-year-old man has turned himself into the Polk County Sheriff's Office after investigators said he struck an 11-year-old child with his vehicle.

According to the sheriff's report, at around 8 a.m. Tuesday, a Toyota 4-Runner struck the child at the intersection of Cedar Side Drive and Rio Grande Canyon Loop and fled the scene. The child's leg was broken and he was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Deputies located the vehicle and identified the driver as Pierre Carmelo Jacinthe, 66, of Poinciana. Around 10:45 a.m., Jacinthe turned himself in at the Davenport Police Department, according to the sheriff's report.

Jacinthe was charged with leaving the scene of a crash with injuries and tampering with evidence.

He told detectives he struck the child by accident, panicked and then fled the scene. Authorities said Jacinthe hid his vehicle in the garage at his home, where detectives found it.

"I've said it before, if you are involved in a crash, stop and call law enforcement. Leaving the scene of a crash is unacceptable," Sheriff Grady Judd said. "Thankfully, the 11-year-old should make a full recovery, but the driver now faces felony charges. If he would have just remained at the scene, he might not have been charged with two felonies."