Florida Woman Driving 5 Times Over Legal Limit Kills Mom in DUI Crash
Florida police say that a woman who was late for work and driving drunk over five times the legal limit caused a horrific car accident that claimed the life of a wife and mother of three at a Winter Springs intersection. The suspect, a bartender and restaurant manager in Sanford, FL was arrested at her home on Wednesday night and charged with DUI manslaughter, and DUI causing serious bodily injury among other offenses. The tragedy of the accident resulted in a heartfelt plea from Chief of Police Matt Tracht to avoid drinking and driving.
What happened?
Police responded to a crash at the intersection of State Road 434 and Vistawilla Drive in Winter Springs at around 10 a.m. The defendant, in a white Toyota, allegedly t-boned a white Honda driven by the victim.
A friend of the victim said that she and the victim had just left a park and she was driving behind her at the time of the crash, according to the arrest affidavit. The police chief, in a statement, said that the victim did “nothing wrong” and was just “at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Two of the victim’s children were in the backseat at the time of the crash. One, a 9-month-old girl in a car seat, and a 4-year-old girl in a booster seat sustained minor injuries from the crash.
All three were brought to the hospital where the mother of 3 succumbed to her injuries.
Police say that the suspect ran a red light while she was speeding, t-boning the victim’s vehicle. It’s unclear how fast she was driving. The investigation remains ongoing. The speed limit in the area was 50 mph. Police say that the suspect’s blood alcohol level was .386, nearly 5 times the legal limit of .08.
The defendant told police that she had her last alcoholic beverage at about 1:30 a.m., hours before the crash occurred when she visited a Sanford bar after work. After that, she said she went home, hung out with her roommate, and got up to go to work at 9:40 a.m., according to the arrest affidavit.
DUI manslaughter charges in Florida
DUI manslaughter is a serious offense. Those convicted on charges of killing someone while driving under the influence of alcohol face a mandatory minimum of 4 years in prison and a recommended sentence of nearly 10 years. With the help of a skilled attorney, the defendant may be able to negotiate a plea deal that allows her to serve four years as opposed to ten.
Talk to an Orlando, FL DUI Attorney Today
FL DUI Group represents the interests of Orlando-area residents who are facing DUI charges. These are serious charges in Florida and come with serious penalties. Our attorneys have the experience you need to negotiate plea deals or beat the charges on technical grounds. Call our Florida DUI defense attorneys today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin preparing your defense immediately.
