A male suspect has been taken into custody following an incident where he allegedly collided with a woman riding an electric bicycle, then proceeded to drive for nearly eight blocks with her body on the car’s windshield. Authorities reported that Xavier Omar Rigby, aged 22, was driving a 2021 Nissan Altima at a high rate of speed while 38-year-old Kjersten Aileen-Hermance Strang was cycling in the curb lane on her E-bike.
Rigby is accused of forcefully striking the back of Strang’s bicycle, causing her to be propelled onto the windshield of his vehicle. Despite this impact, he continued driving for eight blocks before her body dislodged from the car and fell onto the road. Tragically, Strang was pronounced dead at the scene. She was a single mother with a young son, known for her caring nature in the community.
Following the incident, Rigby fled the scene without alerting emergency services. However, he was apprehended by St. Petersburg officers shortly afterward at a liquor store approximately a mile away from the crash site. Authorities noted that Rigby displayed signs of impairment, including the smell of alcohol on his breath, bloodshot eyes, and slurred speech. Upon his refusal to undergo a field sobriety test, Rigby was promptly arrested.
Rigby has been charged with multiple offenses, including leaving the scene of a fatal crash, vehicular homicide, and DUI manslaughter. Records show that Rigby had a prior criminal history, including speeding violations and a previous DUI conviction.
During his court appearance, Judge Elizabeth Zuroweste deemed Rigby a danger to the community, leading to his detention without bond on charges related to vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a fatal crash. This incident follows a recent tragedy where two young newlyweds lost their lives in a catastrophic collision with an alleged drunk driver. João Pedro Prudêncio Cardoso and Maynara França Schio, who had just gotten married, perished in a motorcycle accident in Brazil due to the actions of the intoxicated driver.
