FHP: Charlotte County driver left injured 17-year-old on road after crash

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK)— A driver is accused of hitting a 17-year-old bicyclist and leaving him seriously injured on the side of the road.

Florida Highway Patrol says Angelica Clark stopped briefly after the crash, but left the teen lying on the side of the road and went home. The crash happened at the corner of Willmington Boulevard and Coliseum Boulevard, just down the street from Myakka River Elementary School.

FHP has charged Clark with leaving the scene of a crash with serious injury. The crash remains under investigation.

According to Clark's arrest report, a trooper says surveillance video shows the 17-year-old ran a stop sign before coming around the curve of the road and being hit by Clark. Spray-painted marks at the scene show the teen was knocked back 15 feet.

Clark's arrest report says she first told troopers she thought she hit an animal before admitting she knew she hit a bicyclist. The report also says Clark left the area and did not report the crash because she was scared and had consumed at least five or six drinks in the seven hours leading up to the crash.

FHP told WINK News that because of the seriousness of the injuries involved and that Clark left the scene, the crash remains under investigation. The results of a toxicology report are pending.

A neighbor in the area said the crash is scary since it happened right down the street from an elementary school.

"One of my nieces walks home, so it's a little discouraging to actually even have her walk home now," said Jackie Donohoe.

Donohoe said she hopes the teen is okay, but isn't surprised to hear there had been a crash. She said people speed in the area, and it's dark because there is only one street light.

"Even though this happened at night, it's still kind of scary, cause as I said, during the day, people do not stop. They don't. You will see people speed through the school zone," Donohoe said.

Neighbors told WINK News that people drive too fast along the road, and they worry for teens who walk and bike to and from school and friends' houses. One neighbor said he wishes there were more lights in the area, while another neighbor said she worries about reckless driving from cars and teens on bikes.

Donohoe said she hopes parents will now get their kids' safety equipment so that cars can spot them more easily.

"As annoying as it might sound, any vest that they can wear, reflective vest, lights, anything of that nature that can bring attention to them, the more the merrier," Donohoe said.

Court records show Clark has been released from jail on a $15,000 bond and was charged with a DUI in 2024.