TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Pasco man charged with leaving scene of accident that killed friend

ADVERTISEMENT

By GEOFF FOX | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 16, 2009

Updated: 06/16/2009 02:48 pm

HOLIDAY - A 26-year-old man is accused of leaving the scene of a traffic accident that killed his friend on June 1.

Brandon James Brunotte, of Ironware Drive, Holiday, was arrested Monday and charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury or death. The crash occurred at 2:51 a.m. June 1 on Roselawn Drive near Lange Road, just west of U.S. 19.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol:

Brunotte drove his 1996 Chevrolet pickup into a tree on Roselawn. Witnesses saw Brunotte unconscious behind the wheel, and said he tried to drive away upon waking.

Because the pickup could not be driven, Brunotte fled northbound on foot. Witnesses yelled for him to return because his passenger, Robert Wilson, 37, appeared badly hurt; he was not wearing a seatbelt and later died. Brunotte returned to remove magnetic signs from the side of his truck, then ran away again.

A couple hours later, Brunotte was arrested at his home. He was tracked to his residence by a Pasco County Sheriff's Office K-9 unit.

"Brunotte made several spontaneous statements … that he wanted a lawyer so that he would get 20 years [in prison] instead of 40."

He later claimed to have fallen asleep at the wheel and struck a tree while traveling 70 mph. He suffered "serious" injuries in the wreck, but was later treated and released from Tampa General Hospital.

"He went on to say he wasn't in his right mind," the highway patrol report said.

Brunotte was charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving injury or death. He was being held in the Land O' Lakes Jail today with bail set at $20,000.

Reporter Geoff Fox can be reached at (813) 731-1239

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT