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 or a breath-alcohol level of 0.08 or higher. The driver must also directly or indirectly cause the death of another person in an accident. In Florida, the crime of DUI manslaughter is a second-degree felony that carries a minimum sentence of 124 ½ months in prison. The sentence can be as much as 15 years or more in prison.
News 4 Jacksonville reports that a woman has been arrested 10 months after a DUI crash that injured four people and left one dead.
30-year-old Savannah Serrano was arrested on February 24th, nearly 10 months after the April 27, 2019 crash.
The crash occurred just before 5:30 P.M. on April 27, 2019. The Florida Highway Patrol alleges that Serrano was drunk when she drove her car into a pickup truck on County Road 315.
38-year-old Bethsaida Malea, who was a passenger in Serrano’s vehicle was airlifted to a nearby hospital in critical condition. According to a relative, she was in a coma for 10 days following the accident and is still recovering.
75-year-old Forrest Boram was in the truck that Serrano hit with her vehicle. He suffered from critical injuries and succumbed a month later.
Deputies located Serrano in Palatka, where she was taken into custody. Her bond was set at $100,000.
In addition to charges for the DUI, Serrano is facing charges of DUI manslaughter and DUI causing serious bodily injury. She is also facing charges of marijuana possession.
Drunk Driving Accidents FAQ:
How Many Accidents Are Caused by Drunk Driving? According to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2019, 10,142 people died in drunk driving accidents nationwide. That equals about one fatality every 52 minutes. In 2019, Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) says that drunk driving caused 4,984 collisions, 351 of which were fatal. If you...