Riverview, FL (September 19, 2020) - A bicyclist is dead and a 24-year-old driver is behind bars after a hit-and-run crash in Riverview on Friday, September 18th. The crash happened just before 3:00 a.m. on US 41 near Riverview Drive.

Police say that Brian Gregory Laxton was driving an SUV southbound on US 41. At the same time, an unidentified 45-year-old man was riding a bicycle southbound on US 41. Laxton attempted to overtake the bicyclist but collided with the bike, throwing the man onto the sidewalk. Laxton then fled the scene before police could arrive. The bicycle was dragged for about 2 1/2 miles after the collision. The bicyclist died at the scene.

Laxton was later located and arrested by troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol. Following an investigation, he was charged with driving while impaired and was taken to the Hillsborough County Jail where he was held without bail.

Sadly, more than 105,000 hit-and-run crashes took place in Florida last year. This number represents about 25% of all Florida traffic accidents during the same time period. Hit-and-run crashes can result in devastating injuries and can cause a great amount of pain and frustration for victims and their families.

We wish to extend our most sincere condolences to the victim's family following this fatal crash in Riverview. 

Rubenstein Law is dedicated to serving individuals & families injured by the negligence of others. We know first-hand the heartbreak that can be left behind after an accident. In our news blog, we write about cases of personal injury relevant to our line of work, and we report on news of judgments and appellate cases that affect the rights of personal injury claimants. We feel a responsibility to raise awareness of the injury and tragic loss of life occurring across our state every day.

Note: These posts are created using publicly available (secondary) sources, information has not been independently verified. If you see any information that should be corrected, please bring it to our attention and we will make adjustments. The photos depicted in these posts are not representative of the actual accident scene.