The CW 34 West Palm / CBS Channel 12 News reported recently that a five-car motor vehicle pileup crash occurred in Port St Lucie around lunchtime on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, allegedly caused by a man who had stolen the vehicle he was driving, had his license revoked five years ago and was also on…
According to Safer-America.com, someone is injured by a drunk driver every 2 minutes, and someone dies due to a drunk driver every 50 minutes. Drunk driving is extremely dangerous to you and to the public. Despite the harsh treatment given to people convicted of DUI and the social stigma of driving drunk, people still do it.
On this page, we curate some of these tragic stories from Florida news sources. All sources are cited in the original articles. But what can you do about it?
First, if you do like to drink alcohol then you must take responsibility for your state. Do not allow yourself to drive when drunk for any reason. If you are a social drinker, take a taxi, ride-share, or carpool with a sober friend so you can get home safely. Leave the car at home!
If you like to drink at home, give your keys to someone sober so you are not tempted to drive. Never drink alone at home; you could lose your judgment and get behind the wheel. You could save your life.
Sometimes people end up over the limit because a restaurant or bar served a drink that was too strong for you. If you cannot wait to sober up, ask the staff to call you a taxi. These establishments have a duty to protect their patrons. A bar that negligently lets a drunk person get behind the wheel can be held liable in some cases.
The best option? Don’t drink at all. Acting as a designated driver can help you save the life of your friends and earns you the respect of the community. Some bars and restaurants may also give you complimentary drinks in thanks. Non-alcoholic, of course.
Temple Terrace Woman Charged For Fatal Wreck
The Tampa Bay Reporter reported recently that a woman accused of driving while intoxicated (DUI) on Christmas Eve and causing a wreck that killed a man from Clearwater and seriously injured herself has been charged with several felonies following the deadly incident. According to officials with the Florida Highway Patrol and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s…
DUI Driver Allegedly To Blame For Fatal Pileup
The Tampa Bay News reported recently that a man has been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) as well as other charges after a deadly St Petersburg accident on Wednesday, December 16 that was responsible for the death of one driver and injuries to others. According to officials with the Florida Highway Patrol, a…
DUI Accident Kills Motorcyclist
The Tampa Bay Reporter recently reported that a New Port Richey woman was arrested recently by Florida Highway Patrol troopers for her role in a motor vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 19 that killed a motorcyclist on the day after Thanksgiving. A New Port Richey woman, 24 years of age, was charged with one count…
Port St. Lucie Man Arrested For Drunken Wreck
The Treasure Coast Palm reported recently on a Martin County accident that caused the death of an elderly man and has led to felony charges against the driver allegedly responsible. A 35-year-old Port Saint Lucie man is facing felony charges of DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident involving death and vehicular homicide as…
A Driver Was Killed In A DUI Crash Along Interstate 10
Florida State Statutes Chapter 316.193 are the Florida laws that deal with DUI and specifically, DUI manslaughter. If a driver is intoxicated and is involved in a crash that kills another person, they may be charged with DUI manslaughter. This is a second-degree felony and carries with it a minimum four-year prison sentence. The other…
Police Admit Botching DUI Investigation
In Florida, DUI manslaughter is a charge that is always a felony. If the driver who was intoxicated knew that a victim was hurt or dying and did not give aid, then it is a first-degree felony. All other DUI manslaughter charges are a second-degree felony. It should also be noted that Florida allows for…
A Child Was In The Backseat In A DUI Accident That Killed A Passenger
In Florida, the most serious DUI cases are those that involve the death of another person. DUI manslaughter is a felony charge and if convicted, the driver faces up to 15 years in jail and a $10,000 fine. This charge also has a four-year mandatory sentence. In Florida, unlike a typical DUI, the police can…
A Mother Was Arrested For A DUI Crash That Killed Her Daughter
Florida takes the crime of driving under the influence very seriously. Most of the time, a DUI charge is a simple misdemeanor charge. However, there are circumstances that can turn even a first time DUI into a felony in Florida. One of these circumstances is if there are serious injuries in a DUI crash. Another…
Uber Driver Accused Of Killing Passenger in DUI Crash
Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have independent drivers who work as contractors for the service. However, the drivers are required to pass a background and driving record check, which may differ slightly between the two companies. Uber drivers, for example, cannot have had a DUI conviction within the previous seven years. In Florida, Uber…
Driver in a Deadly DUI Crash Arrested After 10 Months
Florida statute defines the crime of DUI manslaughter as a charge that occurs when a person driving a vehicle, or found to be in actual physical control of a vehicle, and is under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance. For a driver to face DUI manslaughter chargers, the muster must have a blood-alcohol…
Accident That Killed Two Teen Girls May Have Involved Alcohol
Any auto accident that results in a fatality is both a tragic and traumatic event. If the accident involves alcohol, prosecutors in Florida are likely to vigorously prosecute the driver. One of the charges that the driver can face is DUI manslaughter. If convicted, Florida state law mandates a four-year minimum prison sentence. The maximum…
Underage Driver Arrested For DUI Charges After Two Years
All 50 states and the District of Columbia have laws establishing the legal age for purchasing and consuming alcohol to 21 years. Because of this, many states have laws governing the penalties for a person under the age of 21 who are charged with a DUI. In Florida, there is a zero-tolerance policy in effect…
DUI Charges in Crash That Involved Polk County Sheriff’s Vehicle
ABC Action News reports that a woman has been charged with DUI after crashing into a Polk County Sheriff’s vehicle. The incident occurred on Tuesday night on a road in Lakeland. 46-year-old India Williams was arrested and charged with driving under the influence following the crash. Two Polk County patrol vehicles were traveling one behind…
DUI Manslaughter Charges After Pasco Man Runs Stop Sign
A report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that in 2018 in Florida, there were 3,133 people killed in car accidents. 814 of those were caused by drunk drivers. In 2017, that number was 841 of 3,116 deaths. Even a first time DUI can have a huge impact in Florida. The fine is…
Former All-Pro Cornerback Charged With DUI
Like a DUI charge in many states, in Florida, a first-time DUI is usually a misdemeanor so long as it involved no injuries or fatalities. However, there are times when a DUI can become a felony. The first is when it is a person’s third DUI in a ten-year period. A fourth DUI offense, regardless…
Florida Man Driving Semi Accused of Crashing into New York State Trooper’s Vehicle
Press Connects reports that a Florida man was arrested on suspicion of DUI after crashing a tractor-trailer into a New York State Trooper’s vehicle. The crash happened just before 7:30 p.m. on Route 17 in Tioga County. A New York State Police officer had just issued a traffic citation and stepped into his marked patrol vehicle….
Man Believed To Be High on Meth in Fatal Crash
Most of us know the effects that depressants like alcohol and marijuana have on the ability to drive. Stimulants like methamphetamine also have a derogatory effect on driving abilities as well. Some of the possible detrimental effects on driving include speeding, swerving from side to side, failing to maintain a safe distance from other vehicles,…
Three Counts of DUI Manslaughter for Driver Running Red Light
The Villages-News reports that a DUI suspect has been arrested after a crash killed three Summerfield residents, two of whom were children. At about 2:12 p.m. on Thursday, 71-year-old Emilio Nunez was driving a 2003 Suzuki Vitara on County Road 484 at County Road 467 in Marion County. His vehicle was struck by a 1999…
Driver Accused of DUI Manslaughter After Death in Key Biscayne
Ever since a mandatory minimum sentencing law was passed in 2007, Florida has had a minimum sentence of 4 years for a DUI manslaughter conviction. Prosecutors can waive this requirement and allow a judge to sentence leniently. Even with the mandatory minimum sentence, the sentences can vary widely. For example, in a 2009 case involving…
