St. Pete Man Charged in Fatal Hit-and-Run

Nicholas Kachmar, 55, of St. Petersburg has been arrested and charged by Pinellas Park Police for a fatal hit-and-run accident that occurred on 8900 block of US Highway 19 Saturday night. 

According to the police report, the victim in the fatal hit-and-run was 48-year-old Scott Alan Benedict. Benedict is believed to be transient.

Benedict, police said, was struck and killed while attempting to cross US Hwy 19 near Mainlands Blvd.  

At the time of the crash, Benedict was walking and pushing his bicycle.  After striking Benedict, the suspect vehicle fled the scene. Witnesses described the vehicle has an early to mid 2000's model White Ford Explorer SUV. Benedict died at the scene.

Sunday morning, investigators developed information that led to the arrest of Kachmar. Police said Kachmar is believed to have been operating his 2001 White Ford Explorer SUV when Benedict was struck. Investigators found damage on the SUV consistent with evidence located at the crash scene. 

Kachmar was officially charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death. He remains in Pinellas County Jail.