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Arrest In Deadly Hit & Run Of A Man In Wheelchair
Man Is Accused Of A Fatal Hit-And-Run In Which A Man In A Wheelchair Was Killed In Dania Beach

The Broward Sheriff's Office said 34-year old Hugo Detteren was behind the wheel of the 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac that struck Kenneth Scotto, 57, as he tried to cross Federal Highway near 9th Street.

Detteren, in a Broward County jail, was charged with one count of leaving the scene of an accident involving the fatality. He was also arrested on warrant for a probation violation involving another reckless driving charge.

At a news conference, Larry Akers, a Broward Sheriff's Office spokesman, said, "He (Detteren) was upset," but the crime speaks for itself. Akers added the accused man had a previous incident of reckless driving and was in the United States illegally from Argentina.

On hearing the news of the arrest, Brenda Ortiz. Scotto's girlfriend for 14 years, asked, "They have someone in custody?" she asked CBS4 Reporter Ted Scouten. She then folded her hands in prayer and said, "Thank you, God."

Ortiz explained he "was almost across Federal Highway, and then he would have been in the gate, and then home."

A witness described the scene of the fatal accident, "He flew out that chair," said Sharonda Scott. "It looked fake; it looked like a doll baby."

Scott said she then watched as the driver took off. "The truck pulled over for a minute, a quick second, but once the traffic got heavy and everyone was mashing on the brakes, he just took off."

The day he died, Ortiz said Scotto planned to visit a friend while she cooked dinner. He never made it to that friend's home.

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