Man was speeding, driving recklessly in Palm Beach Gardens crash that killed motorcyclist, police say

PALM BEACH GARDENS — A West Palm Beach man was traveling at more than 20 mph over the speed limit and driving erratically moments before a hit-and-run crash in March that killed a 68-year-old motorcyclist in Palm Beach Gardens, according to a police report made public this week.

Travis LeBlanc told police he was unsure of what he hit but knew he struck something, "possibly a car," when he fled the scene of a crash on the night of March 24 near Northlake Boulevard and Burma Road, the report said.

Palm Beach Gardens police said LeBlanc hit a Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by John Valiquette of West Palm Beach. Valiquette died April 28 from injuries he sustained in the crash.

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Police arrested LeBlanc, 33, on April 29 with the assistance of the U.S Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force. He faces charges including vehicular homicide, reckless driving and fleeing the scene of a fatal crash.

LeBlanc remained at the Palm Beach County Jail early Friday in lieu of $160,000 bail. The Palm Beach County Public Defender's Office is representing him, according to court records. As a policy, it does not comment on open cases.

Witnesses told investigators that LeBlanc was speeding and changing multiple lanes in the moments leading up the crash. Further investigation revealed that he was driving 68 mph in a 45 mph zone, police said. LeBlanc's car – the arrest report does not specify a year or a make – rear-ended Valiquette's motorcycle, police said.

Police were able to identify the car and LeBlanc through investigative leads, the report said. In an interview with police that night, LeBlanc told investigators he and friends were spending the day at a park when his vehicle was stolen.

Three acquaintances of LeBlanc confirmed his story, but two later came forward and said they were asked to lie, police said. On April 13, LeBlanc retracted his initial statement and told officers he was driving the vehicle, the report said.

LeBlanc indicated that he left the scene because he feared police would learn he was driving on a suspended license. Records show his license was revoked in 2018 following multiple traffic infractions, police said.

jwhigham@pbpost.com

@JuliusWhigham

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Driver speeding in Gardens crash that killed John Valiquette, police say