17-year-old accused of striking 2 teens with car faces judge

Reporter: Jolena Esperto Writer: Melissa Montoya
Published: Updated:
Bystanders and Lee County Sheriff’s deputies at the scene of a hit-and-run that hospitalized two teenagers at orange River Boulevard and Lorraine Drive in Lee County, Thursday, August 18, 2022. Credit: WINK News

A 17-year-old girl who was arrested after hitting two students waiting for their bus at a stop was given home detention on Saturday morning.

The girl, who WINK News is not naming, told her dad she panicked and drove away after striking 16-year-olds Nancy and Daniel Bernardo near the Orange River Boulevard and Lorriane Drive intersection in Lee County.

Her first appearance was held on Saturday morning. Her next court date is Sept. 6 at 9 a.m.

WINK News attempted to speak with the teen, but the request was denied on Saturday.

Her father Luis Moreno previously told WINK News he had turned her in.

Moreno told WINK News he flagged down a law enforcement officer who was patrolling the area looking for a possible driver.

After his daughter was arrested, he said it was an accident and she should not have fled the scene, but that she doesn’t belong in jail.

The teen faces a charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving an injury.

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