Ryan Foy Carter, who is facing charges stemming from a July 16 hit-and-run accident that left a pedestrian dead, has a history of traffic offenses, including two other wrecks in which he left the scene.
Carter, 37, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving serious injury, careless driving and failing to immediately report a crash after he struck 61-year-old Roger D. Gallan.
Gallan died July 20. The Florida Highway Patrol now says “further charges relating to this vehicle crash are pending.”
Carter struck Gallan as Gallan was walking along the side of U.S. Highway 98 near the intersection of East Bay Boulevard in the Midway community. According to the FHP’s accident report, the wreck occurred at 1:40 p.m. when Carter “drifted off the roadway.”
“After observing the injuries to the pedestrian (Carter) walked back to his vehicle and fled the scene,” the FHP reported.
It is not yet known whether Carter was drinking and driving when he hit Gallan.
Carter was arrested in Santa Rosa County on Nov. 21, 2011, for leaving the scene of an accident causing property damage. He also was charged with careless driving and driving on a suspended license.
Reports indicate he caused the accident when he ran into the back of a vehicle driven by a Gulf Breeze man.
On Aug. 2, 2011, Carter earned his first leaving-the-scene-of-an-accident charge along with a DUI and four charges of simple assault.
According to Santa Rosa County clerk of courts documents, Carter was involved in a wreck on the Pensacola Bay Bridge. He then approached the vehicle he struck and began hitting its windows, said Cindy Edmunds with the clerk’s office. Carter also apparently began yelling at a woman in the vehicle.
The woman told law officers Carter frightened her and the four children in the car with his tirade, Edmunds said.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Tom McLaughlin at 850-315-4435 or tmclaughlin@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomMnwfdn.
