Vehicle Crash – Traffic Homicide Investigation

Published on November 03, 2025

Original News Release (March 2023)

On Monday, March 6, 2023, Melbourne police officers responded to the area of Babcock Street and Seminole Avenue regarding a vehicle versus pedestrian crash. Upon arrival, officers discovered a male pedestrian had been struck by a white sport utility vehicle that was traveling northbound on Babcock Street. The male pedestrian was transported to Holmes Regional Medical Center with serious injuries, where he later succumbed to those injuries.

The white sport utility vehicle stopped and then fled the crash scene without rendering aid, last seen traveling westbound on Seminole Avenue from Babcock Street.

As a result of the ongoing investigation and examination of evidence gathered so far, investigators believe the vehicle that fled the scene of the crash is a 2011-2016 white Jeep Compass. The vehicle may have damage to the driver's side fog light and headlight. Vehicle information is subject to change due to the nature of the ongoing investigation.

Update (November 2025)

After an extensive Traffic Homicide Investigation into this incident, a suspect was developed in this case. Months of follow-up investigation, involving interviews, video, and forensic evidence, revealed that the driver of the fleeing vehicle was Paul Torres, the owner of a 2016 white Jeep Compass. On October 30, 2025, as a result of the lengthy investigation, a warrant for Paul Torres’s arrest was secured for the charges of Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Death and Driving with a Suspended License with Death. The charge of leaving the scene of a crash with death was given a “No Bond” status until the first appearance hearing.

On November 3, 2025, Torres was placed under arrest for the active arrest warrant and turned over into the custody of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office without incident.

The Traffic Enforcement Unit is currently investigating this crash as a Traffic Homicide Investigation. If you have any information regarding this investigation, please call the Melbourne Police Department at (321) 608-6632.