Father and Son Charged in Fatal Fort Lauderdale Hit-and-Run
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A South Florida father and son are facing serious charges in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of 58-year-old Kenneth Solovay.
Authorities have charged 24-year-old Pedro Vasallo II with leaving the scene of a crash involving death, while his father, 61-year-old Pedro Vasallo, has been charged with accessory after the fact of first-degree.
The deadly collision occurred around 6 a.m. on December 14 along the 2000 block of Davie Boulevard. Investigators allege that Vasallo II, driving a 2019 Mercedes, struck Solovay, who was riding his bicycle, and then fled the scene without rendering aid.
A comprehensive seven-page arrest warrant details how detectives reconstructed the events leading up to and following the crash. Surveillance footage played a key role in the investigation, with cameras capturing a vehicle matching the suspect’s Mercedes near the crash site. Detectives were able to track the car’s license plate to an address in Plantation, Florida.
Upon locating the vehicle, officers noted visible damage to the front right corner, hood, and windshield, which they determined was consistent with striking a bicyclist. Additional surveillance footage placed Vasallo II at a parking garage near Sway Nightclub in Fort Lauderdale before he drove in the direction of the accident scene.
Further evidence surfaced when a search warrant uncovered a video conversation involving a woman identified as Donna Compagniotte. In her sworn statement, Compagniotte said Vasallo II admitted to hitting a bicyclist and returning home. She added that he disclosed the crash to her that same day.
Both Pedro Vasallo II and his father were taken into custody on Tuesday. While family members of Solovay have declined to speak publicly, his colleagues at ILiAD Biotechnologies, where he worked for over a decade, expressed their grief. The company’s CEO released a statement honoring Solovay’s dedication and contributions:
“There is no way to overstate Ken’s importance and contributions to the progress we’ve made at ILiAD during the past 12 years. We will all deeply miss his exceptional work ethic, uncompromising standards, steady hand, good nature, and commitment to the mission. But most of all, we will miss him.”
Both father and son were granted bond and are expected to be released from jail by Thursday. However, as a condition of his release, Vasallo II will be fitted with an ankle monitor and must remain within Broward County while awaiting trial.
