An Irish tourist has died following a hit-and-run crash in Florida in the United States.
Martin James O’Connor (36) from Frenchpark, Co Roscommon, was killed in the incident in the early hours of Saturday morning, Broward Sheriff’s Office said.
Mr O’Connor was a drummer with Declan Nerney’s band and was due to play with them on a Holland America Line cruise leaving from Port Everglades on Sunday.
Mr O’Connor was crossing the US 441 road in North Lauderdale just before 5am local time when he was hit by a black BMW SUV that fled the scene.
The driver of the SUV Richard Jennings (35) was arrested at his home in Hollywood, Florida on Saturday night.
He is facing a charge of leaving the scene of an accident causing death.
Mr O’Connor and two friends, who were also visiting from Ireland, were walking on a footpath on their way back from a bar to their hotel. Mr O’Connor began walking across the road, and was hit by the car. Mr Jennings, had been driving his girlfriend’s BMW at the time, police said.
An acquaintance of Mr Jennings who saw the damaged vehicle notified the local sheriff’s office. Detectives from the traffic homicide department arrested Mr Jennings at his home shortly after 6pm.
