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Woman Arrested In Hit-And-Run Crash

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TBO.com

Published: February 12, 2009

Laura Madrigal

The driver in a Winter Haven hit-and-run crash that left a motorcyclist critically injured on Monday was identified and arrested today, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

Laura Teresa Madrigal, of 332 Recker Highway, Winter Haven, was charged with leaving the scene of a crash resulting in serious bodily injury, a third-degree felony.

Deputies give this account of what happened at 12:12 p.m. on Recker Highway:

Madrigal was driving a teal late 80's Ford Aerostar van south on the highway. James Key II, 23, of Winter Haven, was riding a 1999 red Kawasaki motorcycle in the northbound lane.

As the van turned east onto Avenue G, the front struck the motorcycle and caused it to skid off the road. Madrigal left the crash scene and drove east on Avenue G, according to deputies.

Key was taken by medical helicopter to Tampa General Hospital where he was listed in critical condition. He has since been upgraded to stable condition.

Deputies continuing the investigation at 8:11 this morning spotted a damaged van traveling near the 3400 block of Recker Highway, sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Wood said. The damage to the van matched the information about the crash that witnesses told investigators, Wood said.

Deputies stopped the van and questioned the driver and passenger. They learned that the Ford van was registered to Madrigal's husband, Luis Roman, 52. He and his wife were both on their way to a doctor's appointment.

Madrigal told Roman that the van had been damaged in a parking lot, deputies say. Roman had already replaced a broken headlight.

Madrigal is being booked at Polk County Jail tonight, Wood said.

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