31-year-old Land O’ Lakes man is facing a variety of charges following a serious crash Monday near the intersection of US 41 and County Line Road in Lutz.
Robert Vance is being held without bond at the Pasco County Jail. He is facing one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, one count of leaving the scene of a crash involving injury and one count of operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license.
Witnesses say Vance drove his vehicle over a motorcycle carrying a man and woman before fleeing.
Just moments before the incident, the suspect exchanged words with the driver of the motorcycle – identified as Joseph Philipp Calderazzo – a US Navy veteran, and his passenger, Melanie Ann Milinkovich.
One witness shot a video on his cellphone that clearly shows Calderazzo and Milinkovich being knocked from the motorcycle as Vance drives into it.
Abe Garcia shared the video with News Channel 8. He says the people on the bikes are veterans and for this incident to happen on Memorial Day is a shame.
Fortunately the bikers weren’t seriously hurt and they were treated at the scene for minor scrapes and bruises.
The worst part of it all isn’t the fact Robert Vance run over a veteran on Memorial Day – no, the worst part is that Florida Highway Patrol says Vance is classified as a habitual traffic offender.
And that’s it! No attempted murder, no nothing!
Check out the video!
Also, here is a video of News Channel 8 talking to Abe Garcia (the man who recorded the incident)!
Vance has an extensive criminal history that includes two stints in state prison. He’s been convicted previously on drug, burglary and felony traffic charges out of Brevard County.
(Source: News Channel 8)
