Pinellas Park Police Department

Traffic Crash Fatality Investigation
August 24th, 2009
Case 2009- 23704

At approximately 2:18 AM a traffic crash occurred in the intersection of 49th Street and Park Blvd.  William Trotter was traveling North on 49th Street in his 2001 Toyota Camry and entered the intersection of Park Blvd when his vehicle was struck by a Chrysler 300 traveling Eastbound at a high rate of speed.  The driver of the Chrysler ran the red light.  The front of the Chrysler struck the drivers side of Trotters Camry.  The Chrysler then slid into a third car (Camry) driven by Earl Moffat.  Moffat was not injured.  The driver and a rear seat passenger of the Chrysler fled the scene on foot to the North.  Witnesses described both as black males (no further) and that the passenger was limping (may be injured).  A third passenger (front seat) in the Chrysler remained and was taken to Bayfront Hospital.  William Trotter died during transport to the hospital.

Police used K9 to track the suspect and passenger to the area of 49th Street and 86th Avenue but did not locate them.    Officers found marijuana and crack cocaine inside the Chrysler 300 (which is a rental car).  No weapons were found.  Also found inside the Chrysler were birthday party invitations to an event that had just ended at the Bottoms Up bar located in the 8900 Blk of 66th Street.  The invitation indicated the party was being held for Dario Gilley (passenger).

Prior to the crash police dispatched received several phone calls of shots being fired in the area of the Bottoms Up bar.  Responding officers were not able to verify where the shots came from or if anything was shot.  Also prior to the crash, an officer parked at 64th Street and Park Blvd observed the Chrysler 300 Eastbound at a very high rate of speed (80 mph+ according to the officer).  There were no other vehicles chasing the suspect according to the officer.  The officer pulled out onto Park Blvd and saw the suspect vehicle cresting the railroad tracks 6 blocks ahead.  The officer continued East and discovered the crash but did not witness the crash as he was too far behind.  Driver and passenger had already fled.

Investigation continues at this time, no charges have been filed. 

Victim (deceased):
William W. Trotter (Age 60)
Clearwater FL
2001 Toyota Corolla (Blue)

Passenger in Suspect Vehicle (minor injury-taken to Bayfront Hosp):
Dario Gilley (8-23-1988)
2430 36th Street South, St. Petersburg FL

Third Vehicle Involved (not injured):
Earl G. Moffat (Age 73)
St Pete, FL
2001 Toyota Camry (Bronze)

**** UPDATE 8/24/2009 22:00 Hours *****

Police investigators were provided information from an anonymous source that the driver of the suspect vehicle in the fatality hit and run crash was at the Manatee Memorial hospital.  Police investigators went to the hospital and interviewed a subject identified as Anthony Bernard Peterson (B/M dob/ 10-26-1987, lka/ 3627 27 Avenue South St Petersburg FL).  Peterson admitted to being the driver of the Chrysler 300 vehicle when it crashed into Mr. Trotter's Camry.

Peterson stated that after the crash he was helped from the scene by a passenger in his car, and shortly after the crash he and the passenger were picked up by friends in another vehicle that had also just left the Bottom's Up bar.  Peterson was suffering from a broken leg and had his friends take him out of the county to a hospital to be treated.  Peterson was admitted into the Manatee Memorial hospital sometime after 3:00 AM and went into surgery at around d 6:00 AM to repair a broken femur in his right leg.

Peterson was forthcoming with the information about the events leading up to the crash.  Peterson stated that as he and his group of friends (including his mother Demetra Peterson) were leaving the birthday party at Bottoms Up, gunfire erupted in the parking lot.  Peterson stated he wasn't sure what the shooting was about but wanted to get away from the area quickly.  Peterson's friends also left about the same time in other vehicles.  Others in Peterson's party drove up on the crash scene and after seeing what happened chose to leave the scene without contacting police or providing assistance with the investigation.

Police still need to identify the third passenger in the Chrysler 300 that Peterson was driving.  Peterson says he only knew the person by a nickname of "Spring".  Police would like anyone with information regarding this crash to please call the Pinellas Park Police, Officer Scott Galley or Sgt. Tracey Schofield at 727-541-0758.

Charges are pending at this time.  Police investigators will be meeting with the States Attorneys office to discuss what charges to be filed and who to file against.

****** UPDATE 6/18/2010 ****** Anthony Peterson was arrested this date, charged with vehicular homicide and other crimes.

(Link to booking page)