Man Charged In Hit-And-Run Involving Child

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Deltona, FL - The man involved in a hit-and-run that broke the arm of a 7-year-old in Deltona is charged with felony hit-and-run and leaving the scene of an accident with injuries.  Volusia County Sheriff's deputies arrested 27-year-old Ezequiel Gomez of Deltona three days after the accident. The incident report states that the 7-year-old boy was playing basketball in the driveway of 2987 Windsor Heights St. just after 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 13, 2019.  The boy ran into the street after the ball into the path of a gold SUV traveling westbound.  A witness told VCSO that he himself did not initially see the boy run into the street but he did see the gold SUV hit the boy. The witness stated that the boy ran to the residence after being hit and the SUV kept heading westbound then turned left on E. Juliet Dr.  The incident was also caught on a surveillance video from another residence.  The video confirmed the witness account of the accident and the vehicle was a gold in color early 2000's Acura MDX. The next day, further investigation revealed that a 2001 Acura MDX was registered at an address less than a mile from where the accident happened.  The vehicle is registered to Gomez, later identified as the defendant.  The SUV was found at Gomez' residence and appeared to have damage consistent with a recent vehicle crash.  A search warrant was issued for the vehicle. Yesterday (Jan. 16, 2019), officers were able to make contact with Gomez at the residence.  Officers advised Gomez of his Miranda Rights.  He then proceeded to tell officers that he was driving at the time of the accident.  Gomez said he saw the boy running into the street and swerved to avoid hitting him.  He did tell officers that he knew he hit the child but the boy got up and ran back across the street.  Gomez said he didn't think the boy was injured because he got up and run off.  He did admit that he panicked because he knew the boy had been hit. Gomez told officers that the incident was weighing on him and that he was glad to talk about it.  Gomez was taken to VCBJ without incident.