A 36-year-old Lauderdale Lakes man was arrested within three hours of allegedly striking and killing a pedestrian in North Lauderdale early Sunday morning, thanks to a witness who photographed the suspect’s vehicle and license plate. Maurice Anthony Scott faces charges of leaving the scene of a crash and evidence tampering after the fatal collision in the 5500 block of North State Road 7. The Broward Sheriff’s Office said the crash occurred around 2 a.m., with Scott taken into custody just after 5 a.m.
According to the BSO arrest report, an eyewitness told investigators that Scott went around him at a traffic light and hit the pedestrian at the intersection. The witness reported that Scott “briefly stopped and exited his vehicle after hitting the pedestrian, looked at (him) in the roadway then re-entered the vehicle” and drove away, leaving the victim for dead. The victim, identified as a Guatemalan national whose name and age were not provided in the report, was transported to Broward Health Medical Center where doctors pronounced him dead.
The witness’s quick thinking proved crucial in the rapid arrest, as he snapped a photo of Scott’s black Infiniti Q50 sedan and captured the license plate reading “1WISE.” Deputies used this photographic evidence to track down Scott’s residence at 2999 NW 48th Ave., where they found the visibly damaged vehicle. The evidence tampering charge stems from Scott’s decision to take the car from the scene, according to deputies.
Hit-and-run crashes involving fatalities carry severe penalties under Florida law, with drivers facing potential felony charges and lengthy prison sentences. Florida Statute 316.062 requires drivers involved in crashes resulting in death to remain at the scene and provide assistance, with violations punishable by up to 30 years in prison. The statute was strengthened in recent years following advocacy from families of hit-and-run victims who pushed for tougher enforcement and penalties.
Scott remained in the BSO Main Jail as of Monday afternoon on an $82,500 bond. The case highlights the importance of witness cooperation in solving hit-and-run cases, which often rely on eyewitness accounts and physical evidence when suspects flee the scene. The Broward Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision on State Road 7, a busy thoroughfare that runs through multiple South Florida communities.