Update: Police arrest hit-and-run driver who fatally hit mail carrier
TAMPA, FL – The suspect who was responsible for fatally striking a mail carrier and then fleeing the scene has been found, was arrested, and taken to Falkenburg Road Jail Monday.
The suspect has been identified as 56-year-old Christopher Prater, ABC Action News reported.
Prater had driven a Mercedes Benz sedan model (the model year deemed anywhere from 1998-2003) on River Cove Street when he struck the United Services Postal vehicle, leading it to overturn and claiming the life of the mailer carrier, identified as 69-year-old Paul Falica.
An anonymous source reached out to the Tampa Police Department and said that Prater was the person who drove the vehicle. Thanks to the information provided, police were able to go to Prater’s residence at 8412 N. 16th Street and find the car, which had damage matching up with the suspect’s automobile.
Prater had alleged that the damaged vehicle was driven by his roommate, who was out of town. Police reached out to the roommate. And while the Mercedes did belong to him, he did not give Prater or anyone else permission to drive his vehicle, only giving Prater the keys to his car in case it had to be moved.
After hearing the aforementioned detail, police got a search warrant and found a debit card in the car belonging to Prater, as well as his fingerprints. Evidence also indicated a missing oil pan, noticeable front-end damage on the bumper, and video footage showed that it was Prater who got in and out of the vehicle and later returned with the damaged vehicle.
Prater had also worn the same outfit, which corresponded to the outfit he had on the day of the collision.
As a result, officials arrested Prater and “charged him with leaving the scene of a crash with death and driving while license canceled, suspended, revoked (death or serious bodily injury).”
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