Suspect in hit-and-run accident arrested in Illinois
Cape Coral officials announced today that police in Warren, Ill., have arrested a suspect in a hit-and-run accident Oct. 7, 2008, that critically injured 2-year-old Gage Root.
According to a release issued by the Cape Coral police, the local department had issued a warrant for the arrest of Kenneth W. Upmann, 42, charging him with leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, a third degree felony. The accident occurred near the intersection of Del Prado Boulevard and Kismet Parkway.
Police reports indicate thes accident occurred at 1:21 p.m., when Root, now 3, jumped out of a wagon being pulled by his aunt and darted across Del Prado Boulevard. The tot was struck by a dark-colored sedan traveling north on Del Prado and was dragged several feet.
The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Upmann, failed to stop and fled the scene. Root was airlifted to Lee Memorial Hospital and immediately transferred to Tampa General Hospital with multiple injuries, police said.
The investigation led detectives to a North Fort Myers residence where Upmann lived. The officers reported locating a vehicle at the home matching the description of the car that hit Root. Officers said the vehicle had damage consistent with the accident.
Forensic evidence submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement positively connected Upmann and his vehicle to the crash scene. Cape Police Traffic Homicide Investigator Daniel Frantz completed the investigation and obtained an arrest warrant for Upmann charging him with leaving the scene of an injury accident.
While Cape police continued their investigation, Upmann reportedly left the state of Florida. An anonymous tip directed Cape police to Warren, Ill., and working in conjunction with the Warren Police Department, they located and arrested Upmann early this afternoon.
The suspect is being held at the Jo Daviess County Jail in Galena, Ill., pending his extradition to Lee County.
Root was eventually released from the hospital, and he is still recovering from his injuries, according to police.