WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Almost 2 years after a hit-and-run accident killed a 28-year-old father of two, police believe they have finally found the driver and made an arrest.
WPB Police arrested Giselle Maria Infante, 22, of Lake Worth Beach on Friday, April 16, 2021, in connection with a fatal crash that took place on June 18, 2019, that killed Nelson Roman Rodriguez, the 28-year-old father of two, and a Riviera Beach resident.
According to his wife Danairis, the two had parked nearby and Rodriguez decided to cross South Dixie Highway on foot to buy a cigar. It was then that a vehicle struck and killed him. The vehicle left the scene of the accident.
Police found pieces of the Camaro’s windshield and front right fender at the scene of the hit-and-run. Investigators used that evidence and crossed referenced windshield repair requests to determine that two days after the accident, Infante had taken her car which was the same make and model witnesses described at the scene, to a windshield repair company.
Additionally, a press conference on June 22, 2019, was held that showed footage of the hit-and-run in West Palm Beach. Following that press conference, an unidentified person told police that they recognized the gray car that was seen on the footage at Infante’s apartment in the days following the crash. They also noticed it was damaged.
The anonymous tipster told police of the passenger in the car who later said that Infante was driving him to a liquor store in Lake Worth. A the time, he saw Rodriguez crossing the street and told Infante to “watch out” and as she swerved she failed to miss Rodrigues, instead of striking and killing him. She immediately fled the scene.
Police investigated further and noticed that Infante’s car had a new windshield and bumper and some red fibers embedded in the paint that matched the clothing that Rodriguez was wearing at the time of the hit-and-run.
Infante gave the police the keys and the car was seized.
Infante is not the owner of the vehicle and said she did not drive the car, the actual car owner was driving at the time of the accident.
Later, the owner told police that he was asleep at the time of the car and that Infante told him that the car was damaged as the result of a fight.
Investigators have built the evidence needed to arrest Infante and charge her with vehicular manslaughter. She remains in custody.
Knowing what to do after a hit-and-run can seem confusing but it is vital that you follow the letter of the law. If you or a loved one have been affected by a hit-and-run accident, speak with a West Palm Beach car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
About the Author
Michael Feiner
Michael A. Feiner is a partner in the Fort Lauderdale office of Steinger, Greene & Feiner. Since being admitted to the Florida Bar in 2001, Michael has devoted his practice to representing plaintiffs throughout Florida in various tort and strict liability cases and has successfully litigated cases against national insurance companies, large public companies, and governmental agencies, resulting in tens of millions of dollars for his clients.
He has handled all types of personal injury and wrongful death cases on behalf of plaintiffs, including automobile negligence, premises liability, medical malpractice, product liability, dog bites, and sexual harassment. Michael’s product liability case against Microsoft, as well as his representation of victims of sexual harassment and abuse by physicians, has garnered him important media attention at both the local and national levels.
Michael is an experienced trial lawyer and successfully argued an appeal to the Fourth District Court of Appeal. In the reported decision Ortlieb v. Butts, 849 So.2d 1165 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003), Michael persuaded the Fourth District Court of Appeal that a directed verdict on liability was appropriate where the defendant did not rebut the presumption of negligence of a rear driver in a rear-end collision.
Michael Feiner
Michael A. Feiner is a partner in the Fort Lauderdale office of Steinger, Greene & Feiner. Since being admitted to the Florida Bar in 2001, Michael has devoted his practice to representing plaintiffs throughout Florida in various tort and strict liability cases and has successfully litigated cases against national insurance companies, large public companies, and governmental agencies, resulting in tens of millions of dollars for his clients. He has handled all types of personal injury and wrongful death cases on behalf of plaintiffs, including automobile negligence, premises liability, medical malpractice, product liability, dog bites, and sexual harassment. Michael’s product liability case against Microsoft, as well as his representation of victims of sexual harassment and abuse by physicians, has garnered him important media attention at both the local and national levels. Michael is an experienced trial lawyer and successfully argued an appeal to the Fourth District Court of Appeal. In the reported decision Ortlieb v. Butts, 849 So.2d 1165 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003), Michael persuaded the Fourth District Court of Appeal that a directed verdict on liability was appropriate where the defendant did not rebut the presumption of negligence of a rear driver in a rear-end collision.