TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa police have arrested the accused hit-and-run driver investigators say killed a beloved mailman in Sulphur Springs on Monday.
According to the Tampa Police Department, 56-year-old Christopher Prater was arrested in the hit-and-run crash that left postal carrier, 69-year-old Paul Falica, dead.
“I hope this swift arrest will provide a small sense of closure for the Falica family, as well as the extended family from the US Postal Service, as they all continue to navigate this tragedy,” said Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw.
Investigators said Falica was hit and killed at the intersection of East River Cove Street and North Mulberry Street in Sulphur Springs around 3 p.m. Detectives said the driver of a dark-colored Mercedes sedan was recklessly driving through the neighborhood when he hit the mail truck and took off.