In a significant development from Gainesville, Florida, 43-year-old Jimmy Dewayne Lewis Jr. voluntarily surrendered to authorities yesterday. Lewis is accused of leaving the scene of an accident that gravely injured a motorcyclist. Notably, Lewis was on probation for driving without a valid license and was reportedly driving without one at the time of the incident.
The accident unfolded on the morning of April 7, around 8:22 a.m., when officers from the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) arrived at the 900 block of SW 13th Street. They discovered a motorcyclist suffering from severe injuries, who was subsequently rushed to a hospital under a trauma alert.
The investigation revealed that a vehicle, abandoned by its driver, had veered into the motorcycle’s path, resulting in a collision on the side of the car. The driver, identified as Lewis, had fled the scene on foot, leaving behind crucial evidence.
Among the items left in the vehicle was a phone, which officers traced back to Lewis. This connection provided a vital lead in the case.
On the morning of April 8, Lewis reached out to the GPD at approximately 8 a.m., expressing his intention to turn himself in. His decision marks a pivotal turn in the ongoing investigation.
Lewis called GPD at about 8 a.m. on April 8 and said he wanted to turn himself in.
Post Miranda, Lewis reportedly said he had been driving southbound on SW 13th Street and was turning left on SW 9th Avenue to go to his home near P.K. Yonge. He said that after the crash, he fled because he was scared and knew that he did not have a valid driver’s license. He said he had left his phone in the car and that the car belonged to his fiancee.
The officer reported that Lewis has 15 driver’s license suspensions since 2008 and has not had a valid license during that time.
Lewis has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving serious injury and driving without a valid license, causing serious injury; he was also cited for failure to yield the right of way while making a left turn, causing serious bodily injury. Lewis has one felony conviction (violent), one misdemeanor conviction (violent), and four traffic convictions, including three convictions for driving without a valid license; he is on probation in Leon County for driving without a valid license. Judge Joy Danne ordered him released on his own recognizance.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law
