Deputies: 17-year-old bicyclist hit, killed by drunk driver

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, Fla. (FOX 13) - Pinellas County deputies have arrested a driver they say struck and killed a teenage bicyclist in Indian Rocks Beach on Friday night.

The crash occurred around 10:30 p.m. on the Indian Rocks Causeway Bridge approaching Gulf Boulevard.

Deputies said 17-year-old Sophia Delott was riding her bicycle on the westbound side in the bike lane when a BMW, driven by 69-year-old Neil Singhal, veered into the bike lane and struck her.

The collision caused the teen to be ejected from the bicycle. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she died.

Prosecutors said an open bottle of vodka was found in Singhal's vehicle at the scene of the crash, and investigators said he appeared to be impaired at the time of the crash.

Sophia was a Safety on the Seminole High School Warhawks football team -- and the only girl.

"She asked not to be treated differently, so we didn't treat her differently," said head coach Chris Miller. "She quietly earned the respect of everyone on the team."

Teammates said they were shocked by the loss of one of their own.

“She just meant so much to us and this whole football program," said fellow player Bruno Boyens. "She brought out the orange and green like no one else could."

Sophie had also recently signed up to become a U.S. Marine, according to her recruiter, Sgt. Paul Digness.

"I wanted her to do well, and I knew she was going to -- we all saw that," he said. "And it's a big loss because I know the potential she had just in my short time I had with her."

Singhal has been charged with DUI manslaughter. He is being held on $200,000 bond.