Man Arrested After Calling Tip Line About Crash That Killed Bicyclist

SAFETY HARBOR, FL — The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office has arrested an 86-year-old man accused of leaving the scene of an accident in Safety Harbor Thursday night that killed a bicyclist.

On Saturday, detectives arrested Timothy Rush and charged him with one count of leaving the scene of a crash involving a death.

According to the sheriff's office, sheriff's Cpl. Damon Laney received a voicemail from Rush on Friday asking Laney to call him back. Laney was unable to contact Rush, but detectives learned Rush left a Knights of Columbus meeting in Safety Harbor at about 8:45 p.m. Thursday.

After obtaining a search warrant, investigators confiscated Rush's Buick Enclave, which had damage to the passenger side headlight, a shattered windshield and purple paint transfer on the front passenger bumper which was consistent with the purple color of the bicycle 36-year-old Mindy Miran Yi was riding when she was struck while riding in the fog lane in front of 3180 Enterprise Road in Safety Harbor.

Rush has been taken to the Pinellas County jail.

On Thursday at 9:14 p.m., deputies were called to Enterprise Road after receiving reports of an injured person laying in the grass.

The sheriff's office said Yi had been riding her bicycle west on Enterprise Road when she was struck from behind by a vehicle that left the scene. She was taken to the hospital where she died Friday.

Investigators sent out a plea on Friday for surveillance videotape or eyewitnesses to the accident, giving Laney's phone number to contact. Shortly after, Rush called the number and left Laney the voicemail.