Florida State Cornerbacks Involved in Early Morning Hit-and-Run in October, Were Not Charged

Florida State defensive backs P. J. Williams and Ronald Darby were involved in an early morning hit-and-run accident in October according to a report in the New York Times. At approximately 2:37 am, a Buick Century driven by Williams cut in front of a Honda CRV driven by an 18-year old returning home from work at the Olive Garden. By the time police arrived, the occupants of the Buick were gone. They returned within an hour and were not tested for alcohol. From the NYT:

"Elijah Stiers, a Miami lawyer who helped write a state law enacted this year that toughened penalties for hit-and-run drivers, said the basic facts of the Oct. 5 crash warranted criminal charges and a sobriety test. “Two-thirty in the morning, people fleeing on foot — at the very least you’ve got to charge them with hit-and-run,” he said, adding, “You don’t get out of it just because you come back to the scene.”"

It seems most people involved in accidents early in the morning are at least questioned about drinking.

"In the crash report, Officer Hawthorne indicated there was no suspected alcohol or drug use, and he issued Mr. Williams traffic tickets for an improper left turn and for “unknowingly” driving with a suspended license. On the form for the impounded Buick, the officer used a pen to cross out earlier notations indicating the car would be held as evidence, writing: “No hold, no processing.”"

Florida State beat Wake Forest, 43-3, on October 4th.

Once again, the Tallahassee Police Department will have some explaining to do. [via New York Times]