St. Petersburg , FL — The father of a 13-year-old boy who was fatally injured after being taken to an illegal street race is facing several charges.
Authorities arrested and charged 35-year-old Johnny Julio Martin with felony child neglect (involving a death) and being a spectator at a street race earlier this week.
Investigators say that on January 28, Martin took his son to watch motorcycles race in the industrial area at the intersection of 28th Street North near 110th Avenue North.
Later on that night, the teen was struck by one of the bikes:
“At 12:35 a.m. (on Jan. 29), the teen crossed 28th Street into the path of a motorcycle traveling in excess of 100 m.p.h. The motorcycle struck and killed Ethan and also injured a bystander.”
After an investigation into the fatal crash, authorities took Martin into custody on Feb. 8.
Additional arrests are pending.