Florida hit-and-run that dragged cyclist to death shocks Gulfport coastal town
A 22-year-old man is in custody after authorities say he struck an e-bike rider, dragged her eight blocks, and fled, leaving a mother of a young child dead.
Gulfport, Fla. — A Florida seaside town was rocked by a late-night hit-and-run that left cyclist Kjersten Aileen-Hermance Strang dead after she was struck from behind on 49th Street South in Gulfport around 10 p.m. Saturday. The driver, Xavier Omar Rigby, 22, sped away, dragging Strang for about eight blocks on the hood of his Nissan Altima before she was flung onto the road and died at the scene. Pinellas County Sheriff's Office investigators quickly identified the suspect’s vehicle and Rigby was found about a mile from the crash at a nearby liquor store and arrested on the scene. Strang, who lived in nearby St. Petersburg, was known for her advocacy in the cycling community and for her work as a mother to a young child.
Investigators described the incident as a high-speed strike that sent Strang onto the windshield of the Altima and then dragged her for blocks before she separated from the vehicle and lay on the roadway. Authorities said alcohol was detected on Rigby’s breath and noted bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and an unsteady gait. He refused field sobriety tests and was taken into custody on scene on charges related to the crash.
Bond and charges were announced as DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, and leaving the scene of a crash involving death. A judge denied bond on two charges and set bond at $750,000 for the DUI manslaughter count. In the first court appearance Monday, Judge Elizabeth Zuroweste delivered a strong rebuke of Rigby’s criminal history and the severity of the offense, noting a prior leaving-the-scene charge in 2022 and a 2024 reduction of a DUI to reckless driving for bond purposes. The judge said the case demonstrates escalating recklessness culminating in a preventable tragedy.
Court records show Rigby has a troubling pattern behind the wheel. In 2022, he was involved in another hit-and-run, and in 2023 he was arrested for DUI after admitting to drinking and smoking marijuana before getting behind the wheel; that charge was later plea-bargained in 2024 to reckless driving. The judge underscored that this latest incident reflects a repeat danger to the community and a failure to change course despite prior consequences.
Strang, described by friends and family as a devoted mother, was a cycling advocate who frequently posted about safer streets and gear for riders. Social media posts connected to her life with her son and family show a woman committed to her work and community. One recent post carried a message of enduring love to her child, reflecting the strong bonds that defined her personal life. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said investigators acted quickly to identify the suspect’s vehicle and to locate Rigby within a short distance of the scene, a step that authorities say helped advance the case rapidly. Gulfport residents and cycling advocates expressed sorrow over the tragedy and called for continued efforts to improve road safety for everyone on the coast. As the investigation continues, authorities say they are reviewing additional evidence from the scene and seeking any information from witnesses who may have seen the moments leading up to the crash or the driver’s subsequent actions.
The community remains focused on the long road ahead for accountability and road-safety reforms. Gulfport officials, law enforcement, and transportation advocates emphasize the importance of driver responsibility and the need for consistent enforcement of traffic laws to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The court has scheduled further proceedings as authorities gather additional details, and officials urge anyone with information to come forward to assist in the ongoing investigation.