A man is facing serious charges following an incident in Florida where an alleged drunk driver struck a mother on an e-bike and continued to drive with her lodged in his windshield for several blocks before being apprehended at a nearby liquor store.
Authorities report that Xavier Omar Rigby, 22, was driving a 2021 Nissan Altima “at a high rate of speed” in St. Petersburg on Saturday when he reportedly hit 38-year-old Kjersten Aileen-Hermance Strang, who was riding her e-bike in the curbside lane, as reported by law enforcement.
According to police, Rigby collided with the back of Strang’s bicycle with such intensity that she was thrown onto the windshield of his vehicle.
Police indicated that Rigby drove for eight blocks with Strang partially hanging out of the windshield before her body was “dislodged” and fell onto the roadway.
Following the crash, Rigby fled the scene without contacting emergency services.
Authorities confirmed that Strang was declared dead at the location of the incident.
Moments later, St. Petersburg police found Rigby at a liquor store approximately one mile from the crash site, displaying “signs of impairment.”
Officers noted the smell of alcohol on his breath, observed bloodshot eyes, and reported that he was slurring his speech.
When asked to undergo a field sobriety test, Rigby refused and was promptly taken into custody.
Rigby has since been booked into the Pinellas County Jail, where he faces multiple charges, including leaving the scene of a crash that resulted in death, vehicular homicide while leaving the scene, and DUI manslaughter.
During his initial court hearing on Monday, Judge Elizabeth Zuroweste expressed stern disapproval of Rigby’s previous criminal history and his involvement in the fatal incident, according to Fox 13.
“Here you are with a prior charge for leaving the scene of an accident from 2022,” Judge Zuroweste remarked. “And in 2024, the state kindly reduced your DUI to a reckless driving charge. For bail purposes, this is treated as a DUI.”
Rigby has a history of speeding violations exceeding 30 mph over the limit, as well as a previous DUI that required attendance at a DUI school and a MADD victim impact panel.
Other charges against him include driving on the wrong side of a divided highway and possessing an open container, as reported by Fox 13.
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“Now we find ourselves dealing with a second DUI, this time with extremely aggravating circumstances—resulting in a fatality, fleeing the scene, and dragging the victim’s body,” the judge stated firmly.
Judge Zuroweste set Rigby’s bail at $750,000 for the DUI manslaughter charge and denied bail for the vehicular homicide charge, citing concerns for public safety.
“I’ve determined that you pose a danger to the community, and no amount of bail will ensure the safety of others while you are on the road,” she explained.
Strang was a devoted single mother to a young son, as indicated by a GoFundMe page created to assist with her funeral expenses.
Family and friends described her as an “angel” and one of the most compassionate individuals in the community, as reported by Fox 13.
