Karlie Tomica was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. She is accused of striking a man and killing him outside the Shelborne Hotel on Miami Beach. (Source: Miami-Dade Corrections)
CBS NEWS
MIAMI BEACH, Florida (CBSMiami) - Self-proclaimed party princess Karlie
Tomica, who is accused of killing South Beach chef Stefano Riccioletti
in a hit-and-run accident is expected in court Friday morning to face a
new charge of driving under the influence.
Miami Beach police said Tomica had a blood-alcohol content that was
three-times the legal limit and police didn't do a DUI test on her until
two hours after the accident.
Initially, Tomica was only charged with leaving the scene of a deadly
accident. Police had to wait until toxicology reports were back before
charging her with DUI.
She is required to attend Friday's hearing before Judge Migna Sanchez-Llorens or else a warrant will be issued for her arrest.
Riccioletti, the executive chef at the Shore Club on Miami Beach, was
on his way to work when he was struck and killed last month on Collins
Avenue. A Good Samaritan followed the driver and called police, who
later identified the driver as Tomica, 20, who had just left her
bartending job at Nikki Beach.
Riccioletti's widow, Patrizia Pesce, wants Tomica to face justice.
"She needs to feel the pain that we are feeling. She really hit him
hard. And she destroyed him. It wasn't easy to see him like that," said
Pesce.
The Riccioletti family has filed multiple lawsuits stemming from thecrash. Pesce is working with attorney Jose Baez on the civil litigation
against Tomica, Nikki Beach Hotels & Resorts, Penrod Brothers, and
Nikki Beach Special Events, who were all listed as defendants.
Riccioletti's oldest son has also filed a separate lawsuit which
claims the management at Nikki Beach club allowed Tomica to drink
alcohol while on the job as a bartender even though she is underage.
Tomica's attorney, Mark Shapiro, issued a statement saying, "Ms.
Tomica and her entire family are heartbroken over this tragic accident.
Their thoughts and prayers are with the Riccioletti family."
Shapiro did not comment directly on the lawsuit.