Teen hit-and-run victim's lost earphone leads to suspect's arrest

Lina PortmanMay 27, 2024

0 1 minute read

JENSEN BEACH, Fla. (WPBF) – Authorities in Florida say they tracked down a suspected hit-and-run driver using an earpiece the teenage victim lost in the crash.

The Martin County Sheriff's Office arrested 49-year-old Peter Bradford Swing Friday in connection with a hit-and-run. Swing is accused of hitting a 15-year-old boy on a bicycle with his SUV around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday in Jensen Beach.

Sheriff William Snyder said the suspect then fled the scene, leaving the critically injured teen on the side of the road.

“When we have something as horrific as a human being hit, a 15-year-old boy, then the driver drives away, that's reprehensible,” Snyder said.

The victim's mother posted on social media that he suffered head trauma, multiple fractures and numerous scrapes and bruises. He has since been released from hospital.

Peter Bradford Swing, 49, is being held in jail without bail. He is accused of leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury.(Source: Martin County Sheriff's Office via Facebook)

Authorities say they were able to track Swing using one of the headphones the 15-year-old was wearing at the time of the accident. Somehow, an earpiece landed under a floor mat inside Swing's SUV, and investigators were able to track it to the suspect's home.

“We are very happy that he was arrested and that my son helped in the search for him,” said the victim’s mother.

According to the sheriff's office, Swing admitted to hitting the teen. He told investigators he fled the scene because he had already served prison time for drug charges and began to panic.

Swing is being held in jail without bail. He is accused of leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury.