17 April 2023 , 15:08
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A Brit killed in a horrific Florida hit-and-run crash was dragged under a mystery vehicle at 45mph after downing a "significant amount" of booze.
Sabian Lawley, 22, had been out socialising into the early hours of the morning when he was struck by an unknown vehicle in Jupiter, Florida, in March 2022, an inquest heard.
He had been drinking alcohol during the evening and had drunk a "significant amount" of booze.
The inquest at Truro, Cornwall, heard that at least one vehicle struck him but the driver was never identified by police who have launched a traffic homicide investigation.
Florida police said Sabian may have been trying to flag down a vehicle to get a lift home when he was hit at 3.30am.
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The family had announced a reward of $100,000 (£80,000) to find the driver responsible for Sabian's death last year. (cbs12.com)
Sabian Lawley was struck by an unknown vehicle in the early hours (cbs12.com)Police said he was struck by an unknown vehicle and the driver had not been identified - only small pieces of the vehicle were found at the scene.
And Sabian, who previously lived in Cornwall, was around three or four times the top legal limit for drink driving in America.
A post mortem concluded he died from 'total body blunt trauma'.
The senior Cornwall coroner Andrew Cox said there were no eyewitnesses to what happened.
Dad Stuart has been left heartbroken after the deadly hit-and-run (cbs12.com)He said the driver may not have seen Sabian in the road, the driver may have been under the influence of drink or drugs and it was not known why he did not stop at the scene.
Mr Cox said:"We don't have any evidence how this death has occurred.
"Sabian has been out that night until the early hours of the morning. He has clearly had alcohol to drink when he has been struck by at least one vehicle which has failed to stop.
At least one vehicle struck him but the driver was never identified by police (cbs12.com)"I simply don't have any evidence as to how this collision has occurred."
He recorded a conclusion of a road traffic collision death.
The family had announced a reward of $100,000 (£80,000) to find the driver responsible for Sabian's death last year.
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Dad Stuart Lawley revealed he lost his brother in a road accident 45 years ago - and was now having to deal with the heartbreaking loss of his only son.
The road in Jupiter where Sabian was killed (cbs12.com)He told CBS12 News: "I lost my only brother to a road traffic accident 45 years ago. Now, I’ve lost my only son. It's tough.
"He was just a regular 22-year-old. He’d never been in any trouble and didn’t cause trouble. He was trying to get to know people in the area."
Sabian had recently moved to Jupiter from England (cbs12.com)Sabian had recently moved to Jupiter from England and was making friends with people in the community when he tragically died.
Stuart added: "He was having fun chatting to various groups. Shortly thereafter, his phone died. He was unable to summon his customary Uber ride home, and clearly decided he was going to walk back to his apartment in Alton in Palm Beach Gardens and never made it.”