TAMPA, Fla. -- Police say a hit-and-run crash that killed a father and injured his two young sons as the rode bicycles was intentional and have charged a 30-year-old man with murder.

  • Arrest made in New Tampa fatal hit-and-run crash
  • Pedro Aguerreberry, 42, died, 2 young sons injured
  • Cops say crash was intentional, have charged man with murder

Police took Mikese M. Morse of Tampa into custody just after 10 p.m. Sunday. He remains in jail on charges of premeditated murder, leaving the scene of a crash with death, leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury and two counts of attempted murder. 

Pedro Aguerreberry, 42, died after the crash in New Tampa in which police said a Dodge Avenger struck the father and his sons as they rode bicycles along New Tampa Boulevard on Sunday afternoon. 

Dugan said Morse made a U-turn in the Dodge, accelerated and drove directly into the family on bicycles. Police say Morse has a past of mental instability.

"It was clear he ran these people over," Police Chief Brian Dugan said. "He knew he had run them over. He had intentionally did this, and at no time did he stop to render aid. Then he fled from the scene."

Morse's mother, Khadeeja Morse, spoke out on social media later in the day, pointing to the incident as indicative of the "failure of the mental health system."

 

 

According to police, Aguerreberry and his sons, ages 8 and 3, were riding near Wood Sage Drive when the vehicle was heading eastbound on the boulevard, crossed the traffic lane and struck the family. 

Aguerreberry and the 3-year-old were airlifted to area hospitals. Aguerreberry later died. Both children are expected to recover physically. The 3-year-old suffered serious injuries, and the 8-year-old incurred minor injuries.

The Dodge was found in the Pebble Creek subdivision, said police, who added that Morse lives near the crash location.

Antonio Kaik, who lives nearby, witnessed the aftermath of the crash.

"Seeing a scene like that, it makes you wonder, you know," Kaik said. "This could happen to anybody."

A GoFundMe page set up to help Aguerreberry's family has already surpassed half of its stated goal of $50,000. To make a donation, visit https://www.gofundme.com/5q52r0w.

This Gofundme.com site is not managed by Spectrum Bay News 9. For more information on how the site works and the rules visit  http://www.gofundme.com/safety.

Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan said the crash was intentional. Mikese M. Morse was taken into custody just after 10 p.m. Sunday. (Spectrum Bay News 9)
Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan said the crash was intentional. Mikese M. Morse was taken into custody just after 10 p.m. Sunday. (Spectrum Bay News 9)