ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The family of two teens -- one of whom was struck and killed in a hit-and-run crash last week in Orange County -- have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the owners of the vehicle, one of whom is a pre-med student at the University of Central Florida, according to the family's attorney.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers said Melanie Luque, a 17-year-old who attended University High School, was killed in the crash and her brother, 18-year-old Travis Luque Exposito, was critically wounded.
Investigators said the two were riding a bicycle Friday near the intersection of Dean Road and State Road 50 when a black Mercedes hit them and the driver took off.
In a news conference Wednesday, the family's attorney said a wrongful death suit has been filed against Nikki Hilland and her daughter, Kila Holland, whom he says is a UCF student. The attorney said there's evidence leading them to believe that Kila Holland was driving at the time of the crash.
"We find that this particular hit and run crash is very heinous because the driver of the Mercedes left the victims to die in the roadway," the Luque family's attorney.
According to the FHP, a woman who owns the Mercedes involved in the crash came forward 11 hours after the wreck, but she was with her attorney and would not say if she was driving the car at the time of the crash.
The FHP said it's awaiting results of forensic evidence from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that proves the car was involved in the crash.
No arrests have been made in the case.
The Luque family attorney said he has obtained photos showing that Holland has a history of "partying," but he added that all the pictures were taken well before the day of the crash.
"Based on the evidence that we have seen, we have reason to believe that she was the driver," said the Luque family attorney. "If not we would not be filing suit at this time. Obviously there is a reason this person left the scene of the accident, they lawyered up. We can't make them talk until we file the lawsuit."
Local 6 is working to contact the Hollands and their attorney.
Watch Local 6 News and stay with ClickOrlando.com for updates on this story.