66-year-old Lyonel Jeune was sentenced to three years in prison this week for the hit-and-run death of William Rembert, 56, in 2021. His sentencing came from Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols, who gave him those three years followed by ten years of probation after his release.
Jeune’s account of the incident paints a markedly different picture than investigators’ story of what happened. It’s known that Jeune was driving his van on Palm Coast Parkway when he struck Rembert on his bicycle as the latter was crossing the road on December 1st, 2021. Rembert was homeless at the time of his death.
The crash happened near the intersection with Belle Terre Parkway. Surveillance footage has him stopping, walking over to the crash, and then leaving Rembert at the scene. He drove his van away over a minute later.
The late William Rembert, from his obituary.
Meanwhile, Jeune claims that when he stopped to get out and look, he couldn’t see his apparent victim and so he left. He’s conceded that he knew there was a collision, and his story might’ve helped him more had he so much as called 911 after the incident happened. Such a call was not placed.
Jeune was finally arrested for the killing on August 19th, 2023 following a lengthy investigation by Florida Highway Patrol. Charged with leaving the scene of a crash with death, he spent just a few hours in the county jail before posting bond. He was booked again on Monday, this time to serve out his new sentence.
