ARREST REPORT: Alleged DUI Driver Was In Rehab, Confused When Killed Boca Man

VICTIM IDENTIFIED AS FELIPE SOARES DE MORAES.

BY: ANDREW COLTON | Editor and Publisher

UPDATE: 4 p.m. — Nearly four hours after BocaNewsNow.com published the arrest report and the victim’s name, the Boca Raton Police Department finally issued a press release acknowledging the crash, acknowledging the arrest, and identifying the victim. For the very latest, always visit BocaNewsNow.com first.

BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The man who police say struck and killed bicyclist Felipe Soares De Moraes on Ocean Boulevard early Sunday morning was either in or just out of rehab and thought the police were “Hotel People.” These are among the revelations made in the police report obtained by BocaNewsNow.com and published below. Suspect Thomas Vayianos also — according to police — admitted to recently using a controlled substance. Here is the report:

“On 12/15/2024, at 0742 hours, I was dispatched to 1100 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton, FI, in reference to a fatality crash. Upon arrival, I observed the victim, Felipe Soares De Moraes, face down within the NB shoulder of SR AlA. The other vehicle involved was identified as a Grey Chevy Equinox (FI RDVT3) located stationary upon the NB shoulder of SR AlA with a bicycle embedded within the front bumper. The driver of the Equinox, Thomas Vayianos, who was identified by his NJ DI was sitting at the rear of his vehicle. A witness on the scene, Richard Raschdorf, advised that on 12/15/2024, around 0709 hours, he was riding his bicycle NB On SR AlA at approximately the 1200 block within the marked bicycle lane. Richard explained that he witnessed the Grey Equinox pass him “so closely he could touch the vehicle” NB on AlA. As the vehicle passed Richard observed vehicle swerving within its lane entering the marked bicycle lane multiple times. Richard could see Felipe on his bicycle up ahead of him. Richard watched as the Equinox struck Felipe sending him airborne where he came to final rest within the NB shoulder of AlA.

Richard arrived on the scene shortly, thereafter, called 911, and watched as Thomas exited the Equinox and stood outside the driver’s door. Shortly thereafter police arrived on scene. Preliminary crash reconstruction revealed that Felipe was operating his bicycle upon the right half of the single travel lane northbound on SR A1A. The Equinox’s front right struck Felipe from the rear resulting in Felipe being thrown 65 feat and rolling/tumbling an additional 71 feet where he came to final rest. I walked over and spoke with Thomas. I introduced myself and asked for his name. Thomas responded by saying “I” am worried about the Hotel people” and seemed to be under the impression that the other officers on the scene including myself were “Hotel people”. In speaking with Thomas, I observed that he had pinpoint pupils and would look through me when trying to speak. Thomas had to be asked questions multiple times as he would either not answer the question at all or go off-topic with seemingly unrelated matters. I walked Thomas away from his vehicle to spoke with him out in the open. As soon as he could no longer use his vehicle for support it became immediately apparent, he was unsteady on his foot and swayed while attempting to stand still. I asked Thomas to explain everything he remembered occurring today up until his interaction with the police.

Thomas advised he remembered putting his laptop in his vehicle from “the hotel”. Thomas then began to explain an interaction he had with the leasing manager at “the hotel”. I asked Thomas where the hotel is located to which he began to explain that his parents were paying for his rehab and as far as he knows he is currently located at “the hotel”. He had no clue he had struck anyone. He began to explain an incident that occurred in Vermont where he “tapped someone”. Alter it became apparent that Thomas was not going to be able to provide any information, I explained to him that I had completed the crash investigation and read him his Miranda Warnings. Thomas indicated he understood and was willing to spoke with me. While no longer covered under accident report privilege and post Miranda Thomas advised he had no idea he struck a bicyclist. Thomas explained he was currently taking and Gabapentin. When asked why he was taking these controlled substances Thomas stated “I’m in rehab”. Thomas advised he last consumed the substances “last night after midnight” and was currently under the impression it was 1030 as that was his check-out time from the hotel. Based upon the combination of pre and post-stop indicators I requested Thomas participate in Field Sobriety Exercises (FSEs) to which he complied.”

Vayianos then allegedly fails to adequately complete several field sobriety exercises. The report continues with the conclusion of the investigating officer:

“Due to the totality of the circumstances and my training/experience, I felt the defendant was unable to perform simple tasks during the exercises due to being impaired. I feel the defendant is too impaired to operate a motor vehicle safely and this impairment was a primary contributing factor to the crash and subsequent fatality. Due to the sever nature of the incident a blood sample was collected under exigency from Thomas. The sample was collected by the Boca Raton Fire department. BRFD Lieutenant Eric Hanks collected the sample within their ambulance (Rescue 3). The sample was submitted to BRPD evidence. Based upon the above information Thomas did commit the offense of DUI Manslaughter with a vehicle causing death to a human and was placed under arrest at 0953 hours.

Thomas was transported to Boca Regional hospital for medical clearance, While at the hospital a search warrant was obtained for the collection and testing of Thomas’s blood for the purposes of identifying any chemical or controlled substances. This sample was collected by medical staff and submitted to BRPD evidence. Thomas was transported to Palm Beach County jail.”