Cynthia Andrews, 49, and Linda Taylor, 56, were out for their routine weekend walk across the bridge about 6 a.m. when they were hit by the sport utility vehicle. Andrews was hurled from the bridge to a small beach below. Taylor was left dying on the asphalt.

The Yukon, which had significant body damage and two flat tires, peeled off and was found a short distance away.

Palm Beach County sheriff's investigators say Gaillard, 33, contacted them on the day of the accident. They decline to say what he told them or whether they believe he was the driver. They say only that he is cooperating and their investigation continues.

"I don't know if there's been contact subsequent to the initial interview that was done,"Miller said.

Records show Gaillard has been arrested several times. In 1997, he was charged with battery in a domestic violence case. In 2001, he was charged with violating his probation. In 2003, he was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and in 2005, he was arrested on a charge of cocaine possession.

He was convicted in the battery case and sentenced to one year of probation, records show.

The cocaine charge was never formally filed by the State Attorney's Office because the sheriff's office had not provided necessary information in a timely manner, records show, and the outcome of the DUI case was not clear.

Less than a month ago, he was thrown out of a home in suburban Palm Beach Gardens, according to David Follett, the property manager. Follett said Mark Bedell, who rents the one-story, yellow-and-white home on Monet Ridge Road, allowed Gaillard to live there with his longtime girlfriend.

Bedell hired Gaillard at a beach services business, Follett said, and allowed him to live in the home for several months until he fired him. Then he started proceedings to force him off the property.

Neighbors said he moved out about two weeks ago, though some of his possessions were still there Wednesday. Since Sunday's crash, Gaillard has been seen only briefly in the neighborhood.

Follett said Gaillard has a drug problem, which is what led Bedell to fire him and throw him out of the house.

In recent months, sheriff's deputies had been called to the home several times.

On July 14, someone in the home called deputies to report obscene or harassing phone calls. On Aug. 5, deputies went to the house for a welfare check after someone reported concern for Gaillard's safety.

On Sept. 7, the sheriff's office received a report that Gaillard had gotten into a dispute with a neighbor. He claimed the neighbor punched him in the face, according to the sheriff's office.

Gaillard also has been listed as a defendant in five eviction cases, court records show. One of those cases was initiated by Bedell. In another case, both Gaillard and Bedell are listed as defendants.

Reached by phone Wednesday in Jupiter, Julian Gaillard said he has not spoken to his brother and does not know where he is.

"I don't know where the situation stands, and I don't want to comment," he said.

Gaillard's sister, Celeste, also would not comment.

Cindy Larcher, 43, said she has known Gaillard for years.

She noted that, years ago, Gaillard had known Linda Taylor, one of the women killed in the hit-and-run crash.

Eddie Andrews, the brother of the other woman killed, believes it is taking too long for authorities to make an arrest.

While no charges had been filed in Sunday's crash as of late Thursday, it's not unusual for authorities to wait for months before making an arrest in such a case.

Speaking about traffic homicide arrests in general, State Attorney's Office spokesman Mike Edmondson said, "The process is that law enforcement completes their investigation, which because of scene re-enactments and elements or re-creating the crime scene can take weeks, if not months.

"Once you make an arrest, the clock requiring a person get a speedy trial starts ticking," he said.

The only time law enforcement looks at getting an immediate warrant is if there is concern that someone may flee, he added.

"Rarely are there instances in which an individual is taken in at the scene or after being identified," Edmondson said.

Advertise With Us : In print and online Copyright 2006, The Palm Beach Post. All rights reserved.

By using PalmBeachPost.com, you accept the terms of our visitor agreement. Please read it .

This is cache, read story here