VIERA, Fla. The Florida Highway Patrol has arrested a 19-year-old Melbourne man in the Father’s Day hit-and-run crash that killed 15-year-old Isaiah Irizarry on Viera Boulevard, nearly four months after the teen was struck while riding an electric scooter home.
Aidan Perry was arrested by FHP on Tuesday, Oct. 20, and booked into the Brevard County Jail on a charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving death, according to an update from FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi. The agency identified Perry as the driver of the vehicle involved in the crash. WFTV also reported the arrest Tuesday.
What FHP says happened
According to FHP’s original press release (case FHP26ON0287472), the crash happened at about 3:50 a.m. on Sunday, June 21, on Viera Boulevard east of Independence Avenue. A 2009 Hyundai Genesis was traveling east when it veered onto the right shoulder, where Isaiah was riding an electric scooter in the same direction as traffic. The right side of the car struck him, and the driver fled.
Isaiah was transported to Arnold Palmer Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Troopers recovered a passenger side mirror at the scene and identified it as belonging to a black 2009 or 2010 Hyundai Genesis. A search led investigators to a vehicle about 1.5 miles south of the crash scene with damage consistent with the collision. FHP traffic homicide investigators took possession of the car and processed it for evidence, as News 6 reported in June. Trooper Koller was listed as the crash investigator and Cpl. Mendez as the homicide investigator.
In the days after the crash, a witness description shared by The Space Coast Rocket and the family described the vehicle as a dark-colored SUV. FHP’s investigation identified it as a Hyundai Genesis sedan.
FHP has not publicly explained how investigators tied Perry to the vehicle or why the arrest came nearly four months after the car was recovered. Bond information and a first appearance date were not immediately available.
The charge
Under Florida Statute 316.027, a driver who leaves the scene of a crash resulting in death commits a first-degree felony, which carries a minimum mandatory sentence of four years in state prison. Perry has not been charged with vehicular homicide. An arrest is an accusation, and Perry is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Who Isaiah was
Isaiah was a student at Viera High School who was heading into 10th grade, an athlete who played basketball, and a dancer, according to his obituary. He had celebrated his 15th birthday only weeks before the crash.
He was riding home with a 14-year-old friend at the time. The friend stayed at the scene and attempted CPR before first responders arrived, FOX 35 reported. His aunt and legal guardian, Deanna Irizarry, publicly pleaded for help finding the driver in the days after his death.
After getting his Florida ID card following his birthday, Isaiah registered as an organ donor. His family told The Space Coast Rocket in June that he did not hesitate when they talked with him about the decision. His organs were donated after his death.
In July, family and friends gathered at Lifepoint Church in Viera for his memorial and launched Isaiah’s IDea, a campaign aimed at making sure young people have state-issued ID cards.
This is a developing story. The Space Coast Rocket will update it as court records and additional information become available.
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