Vigil held for biker killed in hit and run crash

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Around 70 people showed up for a candlelight memorial after Paul Isaac Soto was hit and killed on his motorcycle.  

Family and friends from his motorcycle group, gathered in their leather jackets, mourning the loss of this father of four with a wonderful smile.  His family called him "Polito," but his biker friends knew him as "Rosta." 

"He was a good dad, he was good uncle, he was a good son, a great brother, an amazing friend," said Paul's sister, Pilar Soto.

Troopers say the 29-year-old man died after being hit on his motorcycle on Econlockhatchee Trail on Tuesday. The other driver took off, but investigators were able to catch the suspected driver, 18-year-old Xianna Rodriguez.

Rodriguez is charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving a death.  She told troopers she left, because she was scared.  

Witnesses say the impact from the crash caused the motorcycle to split in half.

"I first heard the impact of the crash and moments later I saw a car speeding up Millinockett [Lane]," said witness Stephanie Hines.  "It was very loud, just this metallic thud."

"You could see her car was messed up, her windshield was messed up, and I just darted for him.  I asked him if there was anything I could do," explained witness Melanie Barrientes.  "No response."

Soto's sister says, he was the father of one biological child and three stepchildren.  His girlfriend, Jennifer Lugo, tells us he was a good mechanic and father.

"Happy all the time," Lugo said. 

Now the family is asking for justice.

"She needs to realize she hit someone and she took off and he's not an animal," said Pilar Soto. 

Rodriguez is also charged with not having a valid driver's license.   She was released late Wednesday evening on a $7,600 bond.