DAVENPORT, Fla. — The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is looking for an "illegal immigrant" accused of leaving the scene of a crash that deputies say injured a young pregnant woman and led to the death of her unborn child.
Bionel Cervin-Gomez, 48, of Davenport has a warrant for his arrest. Deputies say he left the scene of the three-vehicle Feb. 9 crash near Highway 17/92 and Shamrock Drive in Davenport.
Investigators say an unborn child died because of the trauma the 22-year-old mother suffered. She was eight months pregnant, deputies said.
"Not only is Mr. Cervin-Gomez here illegally, he caused a crash that ultimately took the life of an unborn child. He was operating a vehicle without a license and fled the scene, both violations of the law,” Sheriff Grady Judd said. “In light of his earlier purchase of alcohol, he was also very likely intoxicated at the time of the crash. We have been working hard to locate him and charge him for not stopping to render aid to the victims of the crash he caused.”
The sheriff’s office found video surveillance of Cervin-Gomez buying beer from a convenience store two hours before the crash.
The sheriff’s office said Cervin-Gomez was driving a GMC truck when he violated the right-of-way of a Chevrolet Aveo driven by the mother.
Deputies said there was a 1-year-old girl riding with the mom as well. The toddler was not injured. The third driver of a Ford van was uninjured, according to the sheriff’s office.
The warrant issued for Cervin-Gomez at this time is for leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury and operating a motor vehicle without a driver's license involving serious bodily injury.
Deputies have searched three different homes but have not found Cervin-Gomez.
Cervin-Gomez was previously deported to Mexico in 2000. The sheriff’s office said he does not have legal status to be in the United States.
The sheriff’s office has notified hospitals and law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for Cervin-Gomez.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call 863-534-6300.
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