Alachua man arrested for 2021 fatal hit-and-run

Staff report

ALACHUA, Fla. – Antonio Cornelius Roberts, 41, of Alachua, was arrested on April 11 and charged with leaving the scene of a 2021 accident involving serious injury.

Roberts allegedly hit a pedestrian on U.S. Hwy 441 near NW 147th Drive at about 12:24 a.m. on March 11, 2021. The pedestrian was reportedly in the roadway, and the Florida Highway Patrol press release stated that Roberts saw him too late to avoid hitting him. The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Roberts allegedly drove home, called Alachua Police Department, and said he “hit something in the roadway.” Officers made contact with Roberts at his home.

Roberts’ blood was drawn and reportedly tested positive for a compound indicating the presence of marijuana in his system, but the tests determined he did not have any alcohol in his system.

Post Miranda, Roberts reportedly said he saw something in the roadway, and after hitting it, he looked back, saw a person, and thought to himself that it was dumb for this person to be sitting in the roadway. When asked why he did not stay at the scene of the accident, he reportedly said he just wanted to get home because he had to work the next morning.

In June 2022, Florida Highway Patrol received a ruling from a pathology laboratory that said the blood test results were “consistent with the recent and chronic use of cannabis. Further, the post-incident observations of the subject are consistent with impairment.”

Roberts was originally charged with driving under the influence and leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury, but he was only formally charged with leaving the scene.

Roberts has seven felony convictions (none violent) and eight misdemeanor convictions (none violent). He has served one state prison sentence and was released in 2015. He was on probation following a conviction for trying to cash a fake check at the time of the accident.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.