Clearwater Woman Arrested for Hit-and-Run Incident Injuring Teen Cyclist, Affidavit Reveals

A woman has been taken into custody following a hit-and-run incident in Clearwater, Florida, that left a 16-year-old cyclist critically injured on October 9th.

Emergency services responded at 2:48 p.m. to a call on the 1200 block of Court Street, where they found a teenage boy who had been struck by a vehicle, resulting in serious injuries.

The Clearwater Police Department’s arrest affidavit reveals that the cyclist was legally crossing when he was hit by a car driven by 66-year-old Colette Fortley Pizzarella.

Investigating officers noted signs of impairment in Pizzarella, including bloodshot and watery eyes, along with extremely constricted pupils. Her balance was also described as “noticeably unsteady.”

Pizzarella consented to a field sobriety test, which she did not pass satisfactorily. Following this, she was transported to a hospital for a medical check-up, where a legal blood sample was collected.

According to the affidavit, analysis of Pizzarella’s blood by the Pinellas County Forensic Laboratory revealed the presence of delta-9 carboxy THC and methadone, a narcotic analgesic, in her system at the time of the crash.

The Clearwater Police Department arrested Pizzarella and charged her with driving under the influence causing serious bodily injury.