Driver accused in hit-and-run released
Hasan, 25, now faces charges in crash that killed UCF student
The suspected hit-and-run driver accused of vehicular homicide in the death of UCF senior London Harrell has been released from jail again after his latest arrest.
Yousuf Hasan, 25, was required to surrender his passport and is not allowed to leave Orange County without permission as he awaits trial, court records show. He was also ordered to wear an alcohol monitoring device and prohibited from driving anything with a motor.
During a court hearing Saturday, Hasan’s bond was set at $75,000. He was released Monday.
As he left the jail, Hasan told WFTV-Channel 9 he was “really sorry.”
“I wish I could take everything back,” he told the news station. “And I hope they forgive me in their heart.”
Zachary Stoumbos, an attorney for Harrell’s family, argued for a bond of at least $100,000. He said Hasan’s criminal history, which includes adjudications for grant theft, burglary and possession of marijuana with intent to sell, and lack of local ties merited stricter conditions.
“The system, in our estimation — and I don’t say this lightly — has failed London Harrell,” Stoumbos said.
Kortney Daly, the assistant public defender representing Hasan, noted that the amount requested by Stoumbos and the state was well above the bond schedule, which establishes standard amounts.
Daly asked for Hasan to be released on the same conditions as his initial arrest after the June 22 crash, when he faced lesser charges, because Harrell had not yet died from her injuries. He
was re-arrested Friday on charges of vehicular homicide, DUI manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatal crash.
During the hearing, the state and Stoumbos questioned whether Hasan is a U.S. citizen, though Daly said he is. His arrest paperwork indicated Hasan was born in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh.
The prosecution noted that Hasan, while on home confinement in a trespassing case in 2011, had cut off his GPS transmitter and absconded, according to court records. The state also indicated that Hasan is affiliated with the Nine Trey Gangsters street gang.
“We believe him to be a significant flight risk for a number of reasons,” Stoumbos said.
Harrell, 21, had just returned to Central Florida for summer classes when she was hit by a black Acura while walking on a grass shoulder along Napiers Circle, not far from campus, just before 1 a.m. June 22.
Hasan was arrested after authorities found him and the car in a lot near University Boulevard, records show. Florida Highway Patrol troopers said Hasan was also involved in an earlier hitand-run crash with another vehicle near Mandel Drive and Alafaya Trail.
Stoumbos noted that Harrell was walking with two other people when she was struck.
“This could have easily been a triple DUI manslaughter, no question,” he said.
Harrell clung to life for several days before she was pronounced dead about 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Orlando Regional Medical Center, court records show.
A GoFundMe campaign has since been launched to collect donations for Harrell’s family and medical expenses. The campaign, which set its goal at $500,000, had raised more than $5,700 from more than 100 donors as of Tuesday morning.
“Please help the UCF community raise money for London’s family and medical bills. London was going into her senior year at UCF and lived her life to the fullest,” the campaign said. “She was an empowered 21-year old that loved to have fun. As a community, we want to shed light on how beautifully London lived.”