Florida Teacher Charged for Hit-and-Run Leaving Student with Broken Back

Benjamin Fottler allegedly struck 16-year-old Landon Cates with his car and fled the scene in December 2025.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 4:19pm

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A Florida high school teacher, Benjamin Fottler, has been charged with a felony hit-and-run after allegedly striking a 16-year-old student, Landon Cates, with his car and leaving the scene in December 2025. Cates suffered serious injuries, including a broken back, from the incident.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing issue of hit-and-run incidents involving students and the need for increased safety measures around schools. It also raises questions about teacher accountability and the potential consequences for educators who engage in reckless behavior that harms students.

The details

According to reports, on December 11, 2025, Fottler allegedly struck Cates, who was 15 at the time, while the student was riding his scooter near the intersection of Casselton Drive and State Road 436 in Winter Park, Florida. Fottler allegedly contacted the police shortly after, claiming he thought he had hit a traffic sign. However, a bystander reported seeing Fottler speed away from the scene. Cates suffered scratches, bruises, and a fractured vertebrae in his back.

  • On December 11, 2025, the alleged incident occurred.
  • On March 10, 2026, Fottler was arrested and booked on a felony hit-and-run charge.

The players

Benjamin Fottler

A 49-year-old teacher at Winter Park High School in Florida who has been accused of hitting a student with his car and fleeing the scene.

Landon Cates

A 16-year-old student at Winter Park High School who was struck by Fottler's car and suffered a broken back and other injuries.

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What they’re saying

“I hit, I thought, a sign in the median that damaged my rearview passenger mirror — I'm sorry, driver-side mirror. My wife just got home from work; she travels the same way that I do … she left maybe 20 minutes after me and said that when she was making that turn, there was an ambulance there and somebody had gotten hit.”

— Benjamin Fottler (WFTV)

“Originally, I didn't know my back was broken. I thought I was fine. That was the adrenaline talking. Right after it went away, I did not feel good. It hurt and it sucked bad.”

— Landon Cates (Fox 35)

“She was like, 'Oh my God, the dude that hit you just sped off like pedal to the metal' right when he hit me. I can't like run. I can't like bend or twist or do a lot of things. If my back wasn't broken, I could have done this thing where I spend half my time at school and then half my time at a trade school.”

— Landon Cates (Fox 35)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Benjamin Fottler out on bail.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for stricter accountability and consequences for educators who engage in reckless behavior that harms students, as well as the importance of improving safety measures around schools to protect vulnerable young people.