Date: May 8, 2009
Subject: Suspect in Hit-and-Run Accident from October Arrested in Illinois
Police in Warren, Illinois have arrested the suspect in the hit-and-run accident that critically injured 3-year-old Gage Root on October 7, 2008. Cape Coral Police had issued a warrant for the arrest of Kenneth W. Upmann (DOB: 07/03/1966) charging him with Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Accident. The accident occurred near the intersection of Del Prado Boulevard and Kismet Parkway. The charge is a 3rd degree felony.
At 1:21 p.m., Gage Root (DOB: 05/06/2006) jumped out of a wagon being pulled by his aunt and darted across Del Prado Boulevard. He was struck by a dark-colored sedan traveling northbound on Del Prado and 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.
The investigation quickly led detectives to a North Fort Myers residence where Upmann lived. Investigators located a vehicle matching the description of the car that hit Root. The vehicle exhibited damage consistent with what occurred at the scene of the hit-and-run 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 Kenneth W. Upmann charging him with leaving the scene of an injury accident.
While Cape Police were continuing their investigation, Upmann left the state of Florida. An anonymous tip directed Cape police to Warren, Illinois, and working in conjunction with the Warren Police Department, Kenneth Upmann was located and arrested early this afternoon.
Upmann is being held at the Jo Daviess County Jail in Galena, Illinois pending his extradition to Lee County.
Gage Root eventually was released from the hospital, and he is still recovering from his injuries.
Arrested
Kenneth W. Upmann
DOB: 07/03/1966
50 Eland Drive
North Ft. Myers, FL 33917
Charge: Leaving the Scene of Personal Injury Accident (3rd degree felony)
Victim
Gage Root
DOB: 05/06/2006
2013 NE 13th Place
Cape Coral, FL 33993
Injuries: Critical (initially) – Victim recovering
|