Bond revoked for hit-and-run suspect

Man charged with leaving the scene of an accident with death

MIAMI – A man charged in the hit-and-run death of a bicyclist on the Rickenbacker Causeway last month appeared in court again Tuesday. 

Michele Traverso, 25, now faces an upgraded felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident with death in connection with the Feb. 15 incident that took the life of cyclist Aaron Cohen and injured cyclist Enda Welsh. 

Police said Traverso was driving a car that hit the two men as they rode their bikes on the Rickenbacker Causeway. Witnesses said the driver never stopped. 

Traverso's attorney, Ramon De La Cabada, does not dispute that. 

"He turned himself in voluntarily. They knew the car. They didn't know who the driver was. He admitted to that. He didn't have to," De La Cabada said. 

Traverso's defense team hopes the remorseful move will lay the groundwork for a possible plea deal. 

Traverso was in the county's drug court program at the time, trying to beat a former cocaine possession charge. 

"He was actually doing quite well, and then this horrific situation took place, and now here we are," De La Cabada said. 

The judge on Tuesday revoked Traverso's bond, meaning he will stay in jail until his trial.