Sarasota deputies nab man in fatal pedestrian crash, second hit-and-run arrest in week
A man was arrested April 9, suspected in a Jan. 16 Sarasota hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian. It marked the second arrest in a week for two separate fatal hit-and-runs.
The day of the crash at 6:52 p.m. Daniel Grosso, 37, was seen on a red-light camera weaving fast in between traffic while traveling north on U.S. 41, passing University Parkway, according to a probable cause affidavit. Three witnesses saw the crash, and it was recorded on a dash camera from one of the witness’ car.
His 1993 white Mercury Grand Marquis was seen entering the left turn lane and going around cars in the front. He passed them using the turn lane before re-entering the inside lane once again, police said.
Officers responded to the crash and found the victim, Samuel Bryant, in the roadway of westbound Myrtle Street, just before Cocoanut Avenue. The involved car was not at the scene.
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This is the second fatal hit-and-run arrest this week in Sarasota County. Sarasota Police arrested Michael Brandon Aabel, 29, of Sarasota on April 10 who was involved in a separate fatal bicyclist hit-and-run crash in January.
In 2024 alone, there have been 371 hit-and-run crashes in Manatee County with 97 total injuries and one death. In Sarasota County, there have been 421 hit-and-run crashes with 75 total injuries and three deaths, according to data from the Florida Crash Dashboard.
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Using laser mapping equipment, officers were able to measure and document the scene. They found pieces of the car’s turn signal lights that had “Ford” printed on them. Three blocks east of the crash, a camera captured a license number that came back to the same Grand Marquis.
After looking up the registered owner’s address, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Sarasota Police officers visited Grosso at his Bradenton home. He told law enforcement that while driving in the roadway he struck something, but he thought it was garbage and continued driving home. He consented that his car be towed and search for evidence.
Police officials said that the car's damage was consistent with a car-pedestrian crash. The light lens on the passenger side was partially missing, according to a probable cause affidavit. It had damage on its passenger-side windshield and the windshield wiper. The window was cracked in a spider web manner and extended to the center of the windshield.
Since 2009, Grosso has had 12 traffic infractions in Manatee County. He faces charges of leaving the scene of an accident involving a death.
Grosso was released on bond April 9. His first court appearance is May 17.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota deputies nab man in fatal pedestrian crash, second in week
