The incident happened around 5:30 p.m Monday in Lutz, Florida. Navy veteran Joseph Calderazzo, 46, and Melanie Ann Milinkovic, 41, were on Calderazzo’s bike returning from a Memorial Day event when a car nearly forced the motorcycle off the road. The bike caught up to the car at a red light and there was a heated exchange between Calderazzo and the driver of the car.
Both the car and the bike were stopped and the driver of the car could have gone forward when the light turned green. But as seen on the video, the car makes a sharp right turn striking the motorcycle. That did not seem to be enough and the driver kept going running over the bike. Luckily the couple fell clear of the car’s path. After running over the motorcycle, the driver of the car allegedly fled the scene.
Officers with the Florida Highway Patrol caught up with the driver down the road about five minutes later and his car had damage consistent with what had happened. Robert Paul Vance, 31, was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident. driving without a licence, and aggravated battery.
Vance has a record and was charged as a “habitual traffic offender.” Under Florida law, a person who has been convicted of certain motor vehicle offences on at least three separate occasions can be deemed a habitual traffic offender and subject to increased penalties.
As well as drug offences, Vance has previous convictions for DUI, driving without a licence, and a previous hit-and-run conviction in 2011.
Both Calderazzo and Milinkovic were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. While being treated for leg injuries, Calderazzo told WTSP it was obvious the guy was trying to kill them. He said a lot of things went through his mind such as wondering if the guy was going to reverse and run over them or if he was going to pull out a gun.
Garcia, who made the video, agreed the driver was trying to kill them. Saying when the light turned green the driver could have driven away but instead went “complete psychopath” turning directly into the motorcycle.
According to police, Vance, who is being held at the Pasco County Jail, admitted to deliberately driving into the motorcycle.