New information has emerged regarding a hit-and-run incident in Sebastian that left an 18-year-old woman critically injured.
On June 12, around 10:55 a.m., the victim was walking her dog near the corner of Lance Street and Gilson Avenue when she was struck by a vehicle. The driver fled the scene, leaving the victim unconscious with a severe head injury. Paramedics rushed her to Holmes Regional Medical Center.
Sebastian Police investigated the crash, identifying the impact zone and the direction in which the vehicle fled, driving southbound on Lance Street.
Then, a crucial breakthrough came from footage provided by a homeowner’s video surveillance camera, capturing a light-colored Ford F-150 pickup truck.
Another area resident provided a valuable tip, suggesting the truck belonged to a “Tina” living nearby on Mabry Street. The victim’s statement corroborated this, describing a speeding light-colored truck before the collision.
Following these leads, police located a matching truck parked in the backyard at the residence of Tina M. Batres. Adding to the suspicion, a neighbor told police they witnessed the truck unusually parked in the backyard on the day of the hit-and-run, along with Batres cleaning and scrubbing the vehicle.
Detectives then questioned Batres, and requested to see the truck. As she reached into her purse for the key, they observed what appeared to be drug paraphernalia and a suspicious white substance.
Authorities arrested and charged her with possession of cocaine and fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest.
Once the drug charges were addressed, police questioned Batres about the truck. She admitted she might have been driving it on the day of the hit-and-run. She confirmed having the truck all day and parking it behind her residence. However, when pressed further, Batres asked to speak with her lawyer, according to the affidavit.
A search warrant was executed, and an examination of Batres’ phone revealed a pattern of concerning activity on the day of the hit-and-run. This included contacting multiple defense attorneys, searches for “police scanners” in the Sebastian area, news articles related to the hit-and-run on Sebastian Daily, and inquiries about flights from Orlando to Boston.
Additionally, the phone web browser history showed searches for recent bookings on the Indian River County Sheriff’s website.
Batres was arrested and charged with Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Serious Bodily Injury. She was released Sunday after posting a $75,000 bond and is scheduled for arraignment on September 5, 2024.
