Tampa Bay Times staff
A driver who troopers believe was intoxicated ran a red light and struck a motorcycle on Monday, killing the rider, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Jorge Alberto Mejia Perez, 52, of Plant City was driving a 2000 Nissan Maxima west on Knights Griffin Road approaching State Road 39 just before 4 p.m., troopers said. Robert Eugene Shook, 74, of New Matamoras, Ohio, was riding a 1990 Honda motorcycle north on SR 39 approaching Knights Griffin Road.
Perez ran a red light, troopers said, colliding with Shook, who died at Lakeland Regional Health medical center. Shook was wearing a helmet.
Once troopers and emergency medical personnel arrived, Perez tried to "flee the scene of the crash on foot," the FHP said. A trooper chased Perez down and took him into custody.
Perez faces charges of driving under the influence with manslaughter, leaving the scene of a crash involving a death and driving with no license involving a death.
No blood-alcohol level was released.