Category Archives: Florida

Lee Co., Fla. – Woman faces DUI charges in crash that killed motorcyclist | news-press.com

Posted by DUI Blotter on
Donna Lynne Brown

Donna Lynne Brown

A Punta Gorda motorcyclist is dead and an Estero woman is behind bars on DUI charges after a Thursday night crash in south Lee County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Donna Lynne Brown, 54, is being charged with DUI manslaughter and property damage, hit and run with death, DUI and careless driving.

After making a u-turn at Constitution Boulevard, Brown was driving south on U.S. 41 and failed to see a motorcycle ahead of her. She rear-ended Carl Patrick’s motorcycle and dragged it, along with Patrick, for about three miles.

Patrick, 54, was pronounced dead on the scene. Brown was arrested and booked into the Lee County Jail.

read more here > Estero woman faces DUI charges in crash that killed Punta Gorda motorcyclist | The News-Press | news-press.com.

Polk Co., Fla. – Three killed in crash caused by suspected drunk driver | www.wftv.com

Posted by DUI Blotter on

Polk County deputies are investigating a triple fatal crash that they said was caused by a suspected drunk driver early Sunday morning.

The crash happened around 2:30 a.m. at the intersection of Shepherd Road and Coronet Road in Lakeland.

According to investigators, a Chrysler Sebring, driven by 56-year-old Dorothy Operhall, was stopped on Shepherd Road at the intersection’s stop sign. When Operhall continued through the intersection, a GMC pickup truck traveling on Coronet Road approached at a high rate of speed and crashed into the Chrysler.

Both vehicles were thrown roughly 150 feet from intersection, deputies said.

Operhall and two of her passengers were killed in the crash. They have been identified as Melina Helbig, 48, and Leonard Simmons, 51. A third passenger, 50-year-old Robert Helbig Jr., was rushed to Lakeland Regional Medical Center and is in critical condition.

The driver of the GMC pickup truck, 21-year-old Edward McCoy, is suspected to have been under the influence at the time of the crash, officials said. He was taken to LRMC with several broken bones and is expected to survive.

Charges are expected to be filed against McCoy, deputies said.

via Three killed in crash caused by suspected drunk driver | www.wftv.com.

Santa Rosa Co., Fla – Woman Charged With DUI Manslaughter After Deadly Crash On I-10 | northescambia.com

Posted by DUI Blotter on

Brianna Strum

A Milton woman is behind bars, accused of DUI manslaughter in the death of a Pace man early Sunday morning.

The Florida Highway Patrol said 25-year old Brianna Lynn Strum of Milton was charged with DUI manslaughter, DUI serious injury, DUI property damage, leaving the scene of a crash with death and leaving the scene of a crash with serious injury following the 3 a.m. wreck on I-10 near Scenic Highway.

Strum was traveling east on I-10 in a 2007 Honda Odyssey when she failed to see a 2013 Dodge Charger in front of her. She did not slow down or change lanes, but instead rear-ended the Dodge, causing it to enter the grass median and overturn several times, the FHP said.

A passenger in the Dodge Charger, 33-year old Robert Michael Hall Roy of Pace, was ejected and died from the injuries he received in the crash.

via Woman Charged With DUI Manslaughter After Deadly Crash On I-10 : NorthEscambia.com.

Plantation, FL: Man charged in DUI crash that kills his brother | Sun-Sentinel.com

Posted by DUI Blotter on
Terry Hutchins.

Terry Hutchins

A Plantation man was charged by authorities with being impaired and behind the wheel during a crash when his brother died.

An eastbound Broward County Transit bus was stopped on West Broward Boulevard near Northwest 108th Avenue when a Lexus collided with it on Dec. 11, 2012, at 6:20 a.m., according to Plantation Police and court documents.

Terry Steven Hutchins, 30, was arrested Sunday and charged by the State Attorney’s Office with DUI manslaughter; DUI first offense; DUI with damage to another’s property and failure to use due care in stopped traffic.

Hutchins’ passenger, his brother Christopher Francis Hutchins, 31, also of Plantation, was pronounced dead at the crash scene, police said.

Hutchins was freed on $21,000 bond. Broward Judge John “Jay” Hurley ordered Hutchins not to drive, and to submit to weekly tests for alcohol use.

via Plantation man charged in DUI crash that kills his brother – South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com.

Miami: 25-year-old woman charged w/ DUI Manslaughter after crash killing 27-year-old man ||| miami.cbslocal.com

Posted by DUI Blotter on
Nicole Menendez (Source: Miami-Dade Police)

Nicole Menendez

A driver who police say was involved in not one but two accidents over the weekend, one of which was deadly, appeared before a judge Monday afternoon.

During 25-year old Nicole Menendez’s bond hearing, a police testified that she admitted to being a recovering addict and reportedly said she had taken prescription drugs and drank alcohol before Saturday’s accidents,

The officer also pointed out that she had a breathalyzer result of .067 hours after the deadly crash.

“Defendant was on numerous substances that resulted in death of a 27-year-old man,” the prosecutor told the judge.

At the state’s request, Menendez’s bond amount was increased to $30,000. If she posts bail, the judge said she would have to be fitted with a tracking bracelet and she would not be able to drive.

Around noon Menendez, a preschool teacher at Raggedy Ann & Andy’s Pre-School, was reportedly involved in an accident when making a turn from SW 147th Avenue onto Sunset Drive near Kendall. She “sideswiped a white or grey passenger van, lost control of her vehicle and left the area at a high rate of speed,” according to her arrest affidavit.

As she passed SW 139th, police said she slammed into the rear of a Hyundai. On impact, the Hyundai’s driver accelerated and lost control. The car spun out of control into the median where it struck a large tree on the driver’s side.

“He was dead as soon as he hit the tree,” said Mark Nagy who lives nearby. “I ran around the other side of the car to see if anyone else was in the car maybe a kid in the backseat but there was nobody else but him.”

Arriving officers noted Menendez had ‘glossy watery eyes and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage’.

Menendez has been charged with Driving Under the Influence, DUI manslaughter and DUI with property damage.

via Driver Charged With DUI Manslaughter In Weekend Crash « CBS Miami.

St. Cloud, Fla – Two teens dead after collision with suspected drunken driver | wptv.com

Posted by DUI Blotter on

Authorities say two teens are dead after crashing into a suspected drunken driver in central Florida.

The Florida Highway Patrol reports that 47-year-old Randall Kerley was driving a pickup truck in Osceola County Thursday night when he turned left at an intersection in front of an oncoming car. The car hit the right side of Kerley’s truck and caught fire as it hit an SUV that was stopped at the intersection.

The car’s driver, 18-year-old Rachel Price, and her passenger, 19-year-old Jamaree Cook, were killed in the blaze. No injuries were reported to Kerley or the SUV driver.

Troopers report that Kerley showed signs of impairment after the crash. He was arrested at the scene and charged with two counts of DUI manslaughter. It was immediately clear if he had an attorney.

via Rachel Price and Jamaree Cook: 2 teens dead after crash with suspected drunken driver Randall Kerley.

Miami Beach: Alleged hit-and-run driver charged with DUI after hitting, killing executive chef | miaminewtimes.com

Posted by DUI Blotter on
734800_10151235938523837_997414268_n.jpg

Karlie Tomica

Karlie Tomica was booked into jail yesterday after the car she was driving struck and killed a man outside the Shelborne South Beach on Collins Avenue. She might not have been found so quickly if a Good Samaritan hadn’t followed her to an apartment building in Mid-Beach. Now, the witness’s 911 call has been released, and he repeatedly says Tomica seems “really drunk.”

“I’m actually just following a car that just hit a man on Collins Avenue. As far as I know, at this time, she must have killed him,” says the unidentified witness in a 911 call, according to NBC Miami.

The man continued following the 2007 Dodge four-door that Tomica was driving while on the phone with the 911 operator.

“The lady is really drunk, she just came out of the car,” he continues. “She’s outside the car; she’s really drunk.”

The arrest report states she had slurred speech, reeked of the smell of alcohol, and wasn’t able to walk stably. She refused a field sobriety test, but a blood sample was taken.

Tomica, reportedly a college student, was booked on charges of DUI and leaving the scene of an accident but was released less than eight hours later on $10,000 bond.

Her since-deleted Twitter profile described her as “Party Princess Miami Beach.”

Meanwhile, the victim, 49-year-old Stefano Riccioletti, was pronounced dead on the scene.  He was a chef at Terrazza.

via Karlie Tomica, Shelborne Hit-and-Run Driver, Was “Really Drunk,” According to Witness – Miami – News – Riptide 2.0.

Immokalee, FL: Accused drunk driver kills one in 9 a.m. crash | abc-7.com

Posted by DUI Blotter on

An 81-year-old man is dead after a drunk driver ran a stop sign and crashed into his car Sunday morning, according to FHP.

It happened at the intersection of Immokalee Drive and North 9th Street just after 9 a.m.

According to FHP, 81-year-old Joel M. Feinson of Naples was driving through the 4-way intersection when 26-year-old Victor Moreno drove through a stop sign and crashed into Feinson’s car.

Feinson died at the scene.

Josie Estroade saw the crash happen.

“I told my boyfriend to bring the phone, to call 911 because I wanted to see the person in the vehicle to see what I can do, but by the time I got there they said he was gone, “Estroade said.

Neighbors say a wreck like this was bound to happen.

“Many people cross the road to go to school and they don’t make stops,” said Dasey Arvizu, neighbor.

Moreno was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

He is charged with DUI Manslaughter.

via Drunk driver kills 1 in Immokalee crash – ABC-7.com WZVN News for Fort Myers, Cape Coral & Naples, Florida.

St. Petersburg: Drunk driver kills woman in St. Pete hit and run | TBO.com

Posted by DUI Blotter on

St. Petersburg police have arrested a suspect they say was drunk during a hit and run crash Friday evening that left a woman dead.

Officers were called to the intersection of Coffee Pot Boulevard Northeast and Walnut Street after a report of two pedestrians being struck by a pickup that then fled the scene.

According to police, about 6:30 p.m., a black 2006 Ford F-250 pickup driven by Timothy Michael Deacon, 21, was southbound on Coffee Pot Boulevard when he failed to negotiate a curve and drove onto the sidewalk.

Police say Deacon struck two pedestrians who were walking along the waterfront on the sidewalk in the 1900 block of Coffee Pot Boulevard, then fled the scene.

Gloria Mastell, 67, of St. Petersburg, was knocked into Coffee Pot Bayou was pronounced dead at the scene, police say.

The second victim, Roger Wurr, 71, of Germany, was transported to Bayfront Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, police say.

Police say a witness managed to get a tag number, and Deacon was located at his residence with the vehicle about two hours later.

Deacon was charged with DUI manslaughter and leaving the scene of a crash involving death.

via Police: Drunk driver kills woman in St. Pete hit and run | TBO.com.

Polk County, FL: 24-year-old dead after possible DUI crash; previously acquitted of Vehicular Manslaughter | sun-sentinel.com

Posted by DUI Blotter on

William Garrett Coe (Polk County Sheriff’s Office)

UPDATE: COE HAS NOW BEEN TAKEN OFF OF LIFE SUPPORT AND HAS PASSED AWAY.

Original story follows:

William Garrett Coe of Davenport was previously arrested in December 2009 by Polk County Sheriff’s deputies and charged with three counts of DUI Vehicular Manslaughter, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia after being involved in an accident resulting in the deaths of young woman and her unborn fetus and an 11-month-old baby girl — but was later acquitted by a jury, according to a new release from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Shortly after midnight on January 3rd this year, Coe was driving his pickup when, for unknown reasons, he failed to negotiate a curve in the road, causing the truck to crash into two road signs and uproot a small tree before coming to rest against another tree, according to the release.

Coe, 24, was hospitalized and remains in extremely critical condition, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies found an empty beer can in his truck, and detected the odor of alcohol on his breath.  The investigation is ongoing, the report stated.

via Man acquitted of 3 DUI manslaughter charges crashed into tree; empty beer can found, deputies say – South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com.

Christmas Eve Kentucky crash claims 5 lives. Alcohol factor suspected

Posted by DUI Blotter on

A Bradenton couple traveling to visit family for Christmas were killed in a car accident on Christmas Eve near Flatlick, Ky., and police are investigating whether alcohol was a factor in the collision that also claimed three other lives.

Brent Robinson, son of Rhonda and Don Robinson, a former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher, and Julia Robinson, a Manatee County Schools speech therapist, died with Julia Robinson’s parents when another vehicle struck their car head-on around 5 p.m. Monday in Knox County, Ky.

David Vanderpool, 31, was driving north on U.S. 25E when he swiftly crossed the median, his passenger side striking the front of the 2010 Toyota Camry driven by Gary Caldwell, 61. Vanderpool’s 2004 Ford Taurus rolled over the top of the Caldwell vehicle, which also held his wife, Patricia, 58, and the Robinsons. Vanderpool was also killed in the crash.

Terry Caldwell, brother of Gary Caldwell, said police told his cousin that Vanderpool’s car was “running from 80 to 90 miles per hour,” according to the Lexington (Ky.) Herald Leader.

Kentucky State Police Detective Michael Cornett, an accident reconstructionist, told the Bradenton Herald that no one was alive when he and others from the Kentucky State Police and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene 13 minutes after they received a call at 5:20 p.m. Alcohol was found from one of the vehicles, Cornett said, but wouldn’t elaborate on which one until police determine if alcohol played a role in the collision. Blood tests were taken from all involved and will be sent to police crime, he said, and results could take weeks. But the time of the wreck, Knox County deputies had been looking for Vanderpool’s car because of a report of an impaired driver, Cornett told the Herald Leader.

Sarasota, FL: Man charged with DUI manslaughter in overnight crash leaving other driver dead | bradenton.com

Posted by DUI Blotter on

A Bradenton man has been charged with driving drunk and killing another driver in a crash in Sarasota early Friday, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

About 12:50 a.m. , Siosaia L. Fonua was heading northbound on U.S. 301, when at the intersection with 47th Street he crashed into a car driven by Scott R. Parker, who was heading west through the intersection, according to FHP.

Parker, 55, of Sarasota, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Fonua fled the scene on foot, but was later arrested, according to FHP. He was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Fonua, 29, faces charges of DUI manslaughter, driving with a suspended license, and leaving the scene of a crash involving death, according to a report.

Fonua has an extensive history of arrests for traffic infractions in Manatee County, according to court records.

via Bradenton man charged with DUI manslaughter in Sarasota crash | Crime | Bradenton Herald.

Madison Co., FL: Intoxicated driver dead at scene of 1-car crash | wctc. tv

Posted by DUI Blotter on

A pickup truck driver hit a culvert and became airborne Saturday around 9:30pm in Madison County. Hurt was pronounced dead on the scene by Madison County emergency medical services. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Jonathan Hurt, 34, was driving west on county road 253 (Cherry Lake Drive). For reasons unknown, the 1984 ford pickup drove onto the north grassy shoulder. According to FHP, the front of Hurt’s pickup landed in the westbound travel lane and exited onto the north shoulder. FHP says the vehicle flipped multiple times and came to final rest on its roof facing east on the north shoulder partially in the westbound travel lane. According to the release, Hurt was intoxicated and was not wearing a seatbelt. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office and fire rescue assisted the Florida Highway Patrol on scene.

Lakeland, FL: 16-year-old killed by drunken driver while walking along highway at 1:40 a.m. | abcactionnews,com

Posted by DUI Blotter on

A teenager was struck and killed by a drunk driver early Sunday morning while he was walking along a county road, Polk County Sheriff deputies said.

Blake Dowdy was walking along the shoulder of County Road 540-A around 1:40 a.m. with friends.

At that time Christopher Koenig, 29, was leaving the Paddy Wagon Irish Pub in Lakeland where he and a friend had been drinking.

Koenig and his friend left the bar and traveled down CR-540-A in his F-150 truck when he struck Dowdy.

Blake Dowdy was launched 87 feet into the air and fell into a drainage ditch along the roadway.

According to the teens friends who witnessed the crash, the truck didn’t slow, stop or slightly brake after striking the teen victim and sped off from the scene.

Emergency workers tried to revive Dowdy, but he succumbed to his injuries.

Deputies say about 40 minutes later Koenig called Polk County Sheriff Office Emergency Communications Center and confessed to dispatchers that he struck someone with his truck while on his way home from the bar.

He also confessed to the dispatcher that he had been drinking before he got behind the wheel.

Koenig was later arrested at his house. He is facing charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving death and DUI causing death.

via Drunk driver confesses fatal hit and run on 911 call.

Winter Haven, FL: Alleged drunk driver rams van. Pregnant woman and unborn baby killed | winterhaven.wtsp.com

Posted by DUI Blotter on

Dick

A 19-year-old woman and her unborn baby were killed in a crash after police say a drunk driver slammed into the back of the van they were riding in Sunday night.

Witnesses reported to authorities they saw Thomas Dick’s 2012 Dodge Ram driving recklessly on US Hwy 27 just before he rear-ended a Chrysler van with four people inside who were waiting at a red light.

The accident occurred at the intersection of U.S. 27 and Cypress Gardens Boulevard around 10:19 p.m.

19-year-old Tiffany Ann Woodham, who was riding in the left rear passenger seat of the van at the time, suffered severe trauma during the crash. She died on the way to the hospital. An emergency C-section was performed in an attempt to save her baby girl, who was 9 months along, but she also died as a result of injuries.

Pamela Cheverier, 37, who was in the front passenger seat, was flown to LMRC with serious injuries.

Zachary Rowles, 22, who was in the right rear passenger seat was taken to Winter Haven Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The driver of the van, 32-year-old Tawnya White, was also taken to Winter Haven Hospital and was treated for bruises and lacerations.

An initial toxicology revealed Dick has a Blood Alcohol Content of .131 — almost twice the legal limit — at the time of the crash. A blood sample was also taken from him, which was sent to the FDLE lab for analysis.

Further investigating also revealed Dick was driving at least 20 mph over the speed limit at the time of the crash, violating Florida’s “Unlawful Speed” statute.

Dick, 27, of Oklahoma, is in police custody at an area hospital until he is released to the jail. He is being charged with two counts of Vehicular Homicide, two counts of DUI Manslaughter, two counts of DUI involving Serious Bodily Injury, DUI crash involving property damage and DUI.

read more here > Mother, unborn baby killed in DUI crash | Crime | Winter Haven-Lake Wales News.