Rodney Clem Cummings of Davenport, Fl, was arrested for allowing his wife to drive the car that killed 17-year-old Samantha Hasting Friday, December 18, 2009. Rodney Cummings was in the car with his wife Candy in Haines City,FL, when the Polk County Sheriff's Office stated she hit Hasting and fled the scene.
According to ABC Action News, Polk County Deputies stated that Rodney knew Candy did not have a valid operator's license when she was driving. He was being sought for violating his probation on illegal dumping charges and has been in the Polk County, FL Jail 7 times.
Rodney Cummings is being held in jail without bond after violating the probation.
Pursuant to Florida Statue 316.027, The driver of any vehicle involved in a Florida, hit and run can be a very serious crime with very substantial penalties, depending on what happened in the accident. If you need to defend yourself in criminal court from a hit and run charge, you need to be sure that you are being represented by a skilled defense attorney with experience fighting hit and run cases. Your future and your freedom can depend on it.
In the instant case, the defendant may not only be facing criminal charges but also a civil action. In the State of Florida, motor vehicle owners can be liable for an injury accident whenever the defendant negligently entrusts the vehicle to another. In the instant case, the driver did not have a driver's license. Thus, there may be a case of negligent entrustment.
