Man faces sentencing for fatal hit-and-run crash

Carlos Bertonatti pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter in Christophe LeCanne's death

MIAMI – A Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge will sentence a 32-year-old man who, in February, pleaded guilty to several charges related to the 2010 hit-and-run death of a bicyclist on the Bear Cut Bridge in Key Biscayne.

Carlos Bertonatti pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter, fleeing and eluding, and resisting arrest without violence in Christophe LeCanne's death. Police say Bertonatti hit LeCanne on Jan. 17, 2010 when his blood alcohol content was .122, well over Florida's legal limit of 0.08.

Bertonatti said he never saw LeCanne or his bicycle that morning.

"I had too much to drink. I got behind the wheel. I blacked out," he said. "I wanted to let them (LeCanne's family) know, still after all his time, I find no words to describe the insufferable amounts of shame and guilt and incredible regret and remorse I feel as a result of my actions."

Miami-Dade Homicide Det. Zubair Khan said he didn't see remorse when they fought to draw Bertonatti's blood.

"I did not see him crying," Khan said.

The court also heard a letter LeCanne's family sent from their home in Paris that essentially called Bertonatti's apology a bluff.

"I never meant to leave an injured man behind. That's not who I am, not who I was raised to be," said Bertonatti. "One thing is sure: I never meant to hurt anyone."

Bertonatti faces up to 37 years in prison. The sentencing hearing continues Tuesday.


About the Authors:

Glenna Milberg joined Local 10 News in September 1999 to report on South Florida's top stories and community issues. She also serves as co-host on Local 10's public affairs broadcast, "This Week in South Florida."