Tampa police send message to community after second arrest in fatal speed racing crash

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Tampa police are sending a message to street racers after a second arrest in a fatal crash.

The accident occurred at the intersection of North Dale Mabry and West South Avenue on June 3.

Officer Nick Wilson of the Tampa Police Department said media coverage of the fatal crash could have helped spread the word and made a difference in the search for the second driver.

“We received a phone call Monday from a representative for 19-year-old Daniel Hernandez. The representative indicated that Mr. Hernandez was driving the motor vehicle we were looking for, which was the black Camaro. He also requested a meeting,” he said.

According to Wilson, the “representative” was someone who served as an intermediary between the police and the second suspect, Daniel Hernandez.

During the requested meeting, Wilson said he interviewed Hernandez and a passenger who accompanied him.

“The passenger was in the vehicle at the time of the accident, he was not actively participating in the race as seen on the video. They will not face charges,” the police officer said.

This fatal motorway racing accident killed a woman in her sixties and injured the driver.

“The driver of the vehicle is still in the hospital, facing a long road to recovery,” Wilson said.

Isaiah Hernandez, who works nearby and saw the accident, said it all happened so quickly.

“It’s definitely something you don’t really expect, or prepare for, people go out for their day and then tragedy strikes,” Isaiah Hernandez said.

He said people were constantly running along the highway.

“It’s bad here, people don’t pay attention, they’re constantly speeding on this road, all day, at all hours and something really needs to be done about it,” he said.

The two suspects, Andy Moya Robaina and Daniel Hernandez, are charged with vehicular homicide and racing. Hernandez is also charged with leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury.

Police said racing is extremely dangerous and there is never an excuse to race on public roads.

“We all drive on these roads, we all want to go home at the end of the day, not race,” he said.

Officer Wilson encourages the public to call his non-emergency number at 813-231-6130 if they witness street racing or see it on social media.