The Latest: Parents of man who killed bicyclist speak

TAMPA, Fla. – The Latest on a hit-and-run crash that killed a Florida father on bike ride with his young sons (all times local):

3:45 p.m.

The parents of a man arrested in Florida for allegedly hitting and killing a man on a bicycle say their son is a talented athlete who suffers from profound mental illness.

Michael and Khadeeja Morse said Monday that they are devastated by the accident and send condolences to the family of the victim.

Their 30-year-old son, Mikese Morse has been hospitalized several times since his early twenties. They say he was having a psychotic break on Sunday when authorities said he purposely drove off the road," cutting across traffic and over a grass easement, to kill a 42-year-old father on a bike ride with his two young sons.

An American track and field athlete, Mikese Morse had repeatedly qualified for the United States Olympic Trials.

But his parents told The Associated Press that over the past several years, he's struggled mentally, sometimes appearing well-functioning and other times, not taking his medication and ranting on social media.

The Morses say their son asked police to involuntarily commit him to a facility two weeks ago, but he was released recently.

10:15 a.m.

A motorist arrested in Florida after a witness said he deliberately ran over a man on a bicycle is an American track and field athlete who repeatedly qualified for the United States Olympic Trials.

Tampa Police say 30-year-old Mikese Morse on Sunday purposely drove off the road," cutting across traffic and over a grass easement, to kill a 42-year-old father on a bike ride with his two young sons.

As an athlete, Mikese specialized in the long jump. He attended University of South Florida in Tampa, where he won the Big East Championship for leaping 25 feet, seven-and-a-half inches (7.81 meters). He also attended the University of Miami.

He was a US Olympic Trials finalist in 2008 and 2016.

Police said Monday that Morse was recently hospitalized against his will for a mental evaluation.

Morse is charged with premeditated first-degree murder and leaving the scene. Jail records don't list a lawyer.

9:00 a.m.

Police in Florida say a motorist "purposely drove off the road," cutting across traffic and over a grass easement, to kill a 42-year-old father on a bike ride with his two young sons.

Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan told reporters Monday that witnesses saw 30-year-old Mikese Morse hit the family and speed away. He was arrested Sunday night at his parents' house in Tampa after someone spotted the vehicle police were looking for and called 911.

The crash happened Sunday afternoon as 42-year-old Pedro Aguerreberry was pulling one child on his bicycle with another child following behind. The chief says all were wearing helmets and were on the off-road bike path. Aguerreberry died and his 3-year-old is seriously injured.

Dugan also says that Morse was recently hospitalized against his will for a mental evaluation. He says Morse walked into a police station on June 12 and exhibited "odd behavior," so police detained him.

Morse is now charged with premeditated first-degree murder and leaving the scene. Jail records don't list a lawyer.

7:43 a.m.

A 30-year-old Florida man is accused of deliberately driving into a family on a bike ride, killing the father and seriously injuring a toddler.

Tampa police say 30-year-old Mikese Morse was arrested Sunday night and charged with premeditated first-degree murder. He's also charged with leaving the scene of a crash with a death and injuries. He's being held without bail at the Hillsborough County Jail.

Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan told reporters that 42-year-old Pedro Aguerreberry was riding on an off-road bike path with his young sons around noon Sunday when Morse drove his Dodge Avenger off the road, over a grass median and into the family.

Aguerreberry was killed and his 3-year-old, Bennett, was seriously injured. His 8-year-old, Lucas, wasn't seriously hurt.