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20-year-old driver arrested in hit-run
By ABHI RAGHUNATHAN
Published January 18, 2007
State troopers arrested a 20-year-old Clearwater man and said he admitted driving away from a weekend accident in which his car severed a pedestrian's leg. Edmar Cassiano, 20, was booked into the Pinellas County Jail early Wednesday on a charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury. He also was cited for running a red light. Troopers got the tip that led to his arrest after news reports said the car lost its passenger-side mirror and had a damaged front. The tipster said a car in Cassiano's apartment complex, Farrington Apartments in Clearwater, had damage consistent with the accident The accident took place Saturday night at Ulmerton Road and 38th Street. Authorities say Cassiano ran a red light and slammed into two band chaperones for the Carver High band from Columbus, Ga.: 46-year-old Lisa King and 41-year-old Elonda Floyd. Floyd lost her left leg and suffered a broken left arm. King was treated and released from Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg. After the accident, Floyd persuaded her daughter, 16-year-old Shantaez Floyd, a flag girl, to perform in St. Petersburg's Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade. Cassiano, a citizen of Brazil, has a valid Florida drivers license with a good record. According to the Highway Patrol, he said he didn't stop at the scene because he didn't speak much English. Floyd said she was pleased with the arrest. She still requires more surgery and will remain in the hospital for at least four more days. "I'm overwhelmed," Floyd said. "I always knew that someone would come forward with help." Times researcher Carolyn Edds contributed to this report. Abhi Raghunathan can be reached at araghunathan@sptimes.com or 727 893-8472.
[Last modified January 17, 2007, 21:56:09]
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by John
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01/18/07 01:30 PM
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Teach him English, let him rot in prison for a few years, then deport his criminal behind. Sell all his possesions to cover the victim's medical expenses.
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by Chuck
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01/18/07 11:59 AM
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Why do we continue to allow the issuance of a driver license or privileges of any kind for that matter to those who do not speak our national language? It's pretty simple, folks. No English = no license, no Social Security, no free health care.
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by Patricia
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01/18/07 11:49 AM
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Cassiano didn't stop because he didn't speak much English? What the hell is he going with a Florida driver's license? How did he pass? Now we are giving out licenses to anyone whether they speak English or not! I thought our language was ENGLISH!!!!
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by Orlando
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01/18/07 10:37 AM
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Didn't speak much English?! A bilingual cop coulda been dispatched & it's not like he turned himself in. Crashes are the same in any langauge...nice excuse ::sarcasm::
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by Connie
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01/18/07 08:59 AM
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I'm glad that someone came forward. Whoever you are, "Thank You"! I don't understand why he didn't stop. I have a Brother-In-Law who's from Brazil also and he tells me that they must learn many languages in the schools there. It isn't a good excuse!
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by Martena
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01/18/07 08:39 AM
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Another case of( I don't understand English)If tahat is the issue here, when will we make it a law,that in order to drive or participate in any American privileges you must SPEAK and UNDERSTAND the Amercan Way of life. What a poor excuse 0f a human.
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