Pedro Lopez Montejo Dead in North Lauderdale Hit-and-Run ...
BSO arrests driver identified as Maurice Scott following fatal hit-and-run crash
Pedro Lopez Montejo died early March 15, 2026, after a hit-and-run crash on North State Road 7 in North Lauderdale, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office. A 2021 Infiniti Q50, traveling southbound, struck Montejo near the 5500 block as he crossed the road, investigators said. The crash happened in an area without a marked crosswalk. Maurice Scott, the driver of the Infiniti, stopped and exited the car after the collision, authorities said. He then returned to his vehicle and fled the scene without helping Montejo or calling emergency services, according to investigators. Paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene. Detectives with the Broward Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit arrested Scott.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit is leading the ongoing investigation into the collision. Detectives identified the driver through various investigative techniques after he fled the initial scene. Maurice Scott was located and taken into custody, where he now faces one count of leaving the scene of a crash involving death and one count of tampering with evidence. Following the crash and subsequent arrest, North State Road 7 remained open, though the case will continue to be processed through the Broward County court system.
National Legal Analyst Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal, noted that "What's truly haunting about hit-and-runs is the feeling of being abandoned in a moment of crisis. Most of these drivers are caught within forty-eight hours if there's any physical evidence left behind."
Under Florida's wrongful death statute (F.S. § 768.16-768.26), the personal representative of a decedent's estate may file a legal claim on behalf of surviving family members when a death is caused by a wrongful act or negligence. Florida follows a modified comparative fault system, which means the court evaluates the actions of all parties involved—including pedestrians and drivers—to determine proportional responsibility for the incident.
National Legal Analyst Bond of Bond Legal noted that "When a pedestrian is killed by a vehicle and the driver flees, the driver’s 'duty of care' is a central part of the legal review. This means drivers are expected to be extra careful in areas where people are walking, even if the pedestrian isn't exactly where they are supposed to be."
Surviving family members, such as spouses, children, or parents, may pursue damages for the loss of companionship, mental pain and suffering, and the value of lost support and services. The statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death claim in Florida is generally two years from the date of the person's death. In cases involving hit-and-run drivers, additional legal complexities may arise regarding uninsured motorist coverage and the identification of all liable parties.