Bradenton man hit a golf cart and ran from the scene, cops say. He is now in jail

A Bradenton man who Florida Highway Patrol troopers say struck a stopped golf cart with his vehicle, injuring the 80-year-old woman driving the cart, and then ran from the scene has been arrested.

Daniel Paul Kersey II, 32, is charged with leaving the scene of a serious injury crash and driving with a suspended license.

Kersey had already been booked into the Manatee County Jail on Dec. 30 after a separate incident in which he was caught vandalizing Trinity Baptist Church in Bradenton, according to Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

The crash occurred around 3:45 p.m. Dec. 27 on a road inside of the Golf Lakes Motor Home Park in Bradenton.

Kersey was heading southbound on Eighth Street East approaching 49th Avenue Drive East in a Volkswagon Jetta, troopers say, when he struck a golf cart that was parked while the woman was collecting mail from a mailbox.

The front of the Volkswagen struck the right side of the golf cart and then traveled off of the roadway and hit a palm tree, according to FHP.

Kersey then ran from the scene.

The Bradenton woman who was in the golf cart was seriously injured and required transport to Blake Medical Center for care.

FHP says an exhaustive criminal investigation followed.

“The most important thing a driver can do when involved in a crash is to remain on scene and call for help,” FHP said in a press release. “Staying on scene will not only spare a driver from significant leaving the scene legal penalties, it may save a life.”

Days after fleeing the vehicle accident, Kersey committed more crimes when he broke into and vandalized Trinity Baptist Church in Bradenton, according to Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Kersey was still on the scene when deputies arrived and found damage in several areas of the church.

The church’s surveillance system captured Kersey causing the damage, according to the sheriff’s office.

Kersey is now being held on bonds totaling $12,000.

This story was originally published January 7, 2020 at 3:55 PM.