BSO: Cooper City Man Arrested For DUI After Running Over Neighbor Walking Dog
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COOPER CITY (CBSMiami) – A Cooper City man is facing additional charges for allegedly running over his neighbor who was walking his dog.
"Great father. Great son. Great guy. Everybody around here loves him," said Barbara Ledesma, the victim's ex-wife.
A suspected drunk driver struck Robert Wimpey, 52, just yards from his Cooper City apartment.
Wimpey's family was hopeful at first he would survive his injures but they're now left devastated.
"His mom is 80 years old. His daughter's 18," said Ledesma. "She's already asking me, 'Who's going to walk me at my wedding? Who's going to see my grandkids?'"
It was shortly after 1:00 a.m. on September 11th when Wimpey went out to walk his dog, Ana, wearing a yellow, reflective vest.
Police said his neighbor, Michael Smith, who was driving drunk, struck him at the corner of SW 52nd Court and 90th Way.
"I heard a skid around the corner and I knew that someone was going a little bit too fast," said neighbor Eileen Gonzalez.
"I heard the screaming, the crying," said friend and neighbor Mike Marcais. "I noticed Ana, his dog, was running around."
Smith stayed at the scene and was arrested on DUI charges, while Wimpey clung to life at the hospital suffering a broken leg, collapsed lung and brain damage. Eleven days later Wimpey died.
Smith was arrested once again Wednesday to face new charges and appeared in Broward County court Thursday.
A small memorial bearing flowers and a cross marks the spot where Wimpey was struck.
His family is now left with only memories and the hope that justice will be served.
"I think he needs to learn his lesson. Unfortunately, I wish he would have learned his lesson before he ran him over and killed him," said Ledesma.
Smith is charged with DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide.