LAKE WORTH BEACH, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2025) — The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office says it has identified the driver in a Lake Worth Beach hit-and-run that killed a 77-year-old pedestrian earlier this month, and that charges are pending in the case.
According to an updated traffic report and information provided to Boca Post, deputies say the driver has been identified as Ana Maria Perez, 63, of Lantana. Investigators say Perez was behind the wheel of a Honda Civic when it struck West Palm Beach resident Michael Carmen Brennan, 77, on North Dixie Highway and then left the scene.
Boca Post previously reported that the hit-and-run crash happened around 5:57 p.m. at the intersection of North Dixie Highway and 16th Avenue North on a Saturday evening. Deputies said Brennan was walking westbound across North Dixie Highway when he entered the southbound lanes outside of a marked crosswalk and was not wearing reflective clothing at the time.
As Brennan moved into the roadway, a southbound Honda Civic in the inside lane approached the intersection. The initial report described the front left side of the Civic hitting Brennan on his right side, causing what investigators called a “fender vault” that threw him into the air before he landed between the northbound and southbound lanes.
The driver did not stay at the scene that night. In the original report, the car’s year, model and tag were all listed as unknown, and deputies said they had not yet identified who had been behind the wheel.
Brennan was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 6:40 p.m. from injuries suffered in the collision, according to PBSO’s traffic log. Investigators noted there was no indication that alcohol or drugs were a factor on Brennan’s part.
PBSO now says its Traffic Homicide Unit has located the suspected driver and identified her as Perez, who deputies say was driving a Honda Civic at the time of the crash. The agency says criminal charges in connection with the fatal hit-and-run are pending, but specific counts have not yet been released publicly.
The section of North Dixie Highway where the crash occurred runs through a busy stretch of Lake Worth Beach lined with older sidewalks, side streets and frequent foot traffic. On the night of the crash, deputies closed portions of the roadway for several hours as members of PBSO’s Violent Crimes Division and traffic investigators documented debris, measured the lanes and tried to reconstruct the Civic’s path after impact.
In the initial days after the crash, PBSO had not released any still images, suspect descriptions or recovered vehicle parts tied to the case, and investigators had not said whether they were canvassing nearby homes or businesses for surveillance video. The agency has not yet detailed what led them to Perez or how they connected her Honda Civic to the deadly hit-and-run.
PBSO says the investigation remains active as detectives complete their work and consult with prosecutors on potential charges.
Anyone who may have additional information about the crash is still asked to contact the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County.
Boca Post will continue to follow this case and provide updates as new information is released.
