TAMPA, FL -- The University of Tampa student who was declared brain dead after a hit-and-run accident has died.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says 20-year-old Erik Nicoletti died as a result of the injuries he sustained from the accident.
Investigators say 27-year-old Andres Trujillo confessed to the crime on Sunday after turning himself in. Trujillo was denied bond Monday.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for this to happen," Trujullo said to reporters as he was led to a waiting patrol car.
Nicoletti and an out-of-town friend, 19-year-old Cree Riley, were crossing North Boulevard near Kennedy when they were hit around 1 a.m.
Nicoletti was declared brain dead after the accident. He was later taken off of life support.
Riley is currently listed in stable condition, according to the hospital.
The two were walking back from Metro Market, a popular place with students because it's open around the clock.
Police say Trujillo was traveling west on Kennedy from North Boulevard and veered over the north curb of Kennedy onto the sidewalk. The vehicle hit both victims at approximately 30 MPH.
"We saw their shoes in the road, and there was a little bit of blood on the side of the road, and there was a little bit of glass and debris from the vehicle." said Lt. Jack Diaz.
Police said Trujillo never stopped. He said that he had bent over to pick up a cigarette he had dropped and panicked, according to Diaz.
Trujillo denied that he had been drinking, and said he didn't realize he had hit a person when he fled the scene.
Officers found his car abandoned near the intersection Dale Mabry Boulevard and Lambright. Investigators said Trujillo had removed the license plate.
After detectives began questioning some of Trujillo's relatives, he offered to turn himself in, Diaz said.
Friends like Matt Drouin say Nicoletti is just the life of the party.
"He's a caring person, he's got a ton of friends on campus."
Trujillo Faces charges charges of hit and run, leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injuries and violation of probation.
Tampa Police detectives are working with the State Attorney's Office to determine if the charges will be upgraded now that Nicoletti has died.
