A Villager charged with hit-and-run claims she never saw the golf cart that she allegedly struck with her SUV.
Noreen Nevrly, 75, of the Village of Hillsborough, pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of hit and run this past week in Sumter County Court. The Chicago native remains free on $5,000 bond.
Witnesses told an investigator with the Florida Highway Patrol that they saw the white SUV traveling east on Hillsborough Trail approaching Amish Path at about 3 p.m. March 31. A golf cart was also traveling east on Hillsborough Trail in the golf cart lane. The SUV made a turn onto Amish Path and the SUV’s right rear tire made contact with the left front tire of the golf cart, causing the driver to fall out. The SUV kept going.
The FHP investigator contacted Community Watch and viewed the gate camera surveillance footage from the Village of Hillsborough entrance. The white SUV was captured on video passing through the gate shortly before the hit-and-run crash occurred.
The investigator tracked the SUV to Nevrly’s home at 1618 Tango St. The investigator went to the residence and spoke to her husband, who opened the garage door and showed the investigator the SUV, which had scuff marks just above the gas cap and near the right rear tire. Nevryl abruptly walked out into the garage and closed the door with the investigator and her husband still in the driveway. The husband reopened the garage door at the investigator’s request.
Nevrly admitted she had been driving on Hillsborough Trail at about the time of the accident. She claimed she was not aware that her SUV made contact with the golf cart and that if it had happened, “they must have run into her,” according to an affidavit from FHP. Nevrly also claimed she is hard of hearing and must have had her music turned up while driving. She said she never heard or felt a collision.
Nevrly has retained criminal defense attorney Christopher Klemawesch, who is also representing Villager Richard Keil, charged with DUI manslaughter in the death of a Villager’s daughter who fatally fell from a golf cart he was driving.