According to Florida law, a person commits the crime of DUI manslaughter when they drive a vehicle or are found to be in control of a vehicle, have a breath or blood-alcohol level of 0.08% or higher, and causes the death of another person either directly or indirectly. DUI manslaughter is a second-degree felony. If convicted, there is a mandatory minimum of 124 ½ months in prison and up to 15 years in prison. Other penalties include up to fifteen years on probation, up to $10,000 in fines and permanent revocation of a person’s driver’s license.
Local 10 News reports on a Deerfield Beach woman pleading not guilty to DUI manslaughter charges stemming from a crash that killed a teen and her grandmother.
21-year-old Andrea Schneider was arrested last week in connection with a deadly March 30th crash that claimed two lives. On Tuesday, the woman pleaded not guilty to charges of DUI manslaughter.
On March 30th, Schneider was behind the wheel of a Dodge Avenger traveling east on Hillsboro Boulevard in Deerfield Beach. She lost control of the vehicle and it veered into oncoming traffic. It collided with three vehicles.
One of those vehicles was being driven by 16-year-old Breahna Free-Baker. Her mother and 61-year-old grandmother were passengers in the vehicle. Both Free-Baker and the grandmother died at the scene of the accident.
Traffic homicide detectives said that evidence, as well as witness statements, indicate that Schneider was speeding at the time of the accident. She suffered from injuries and was taken to a hospital.
Court records indicate that Schneider was serving probation for a 2018 trespassing charge.
She is due back in court at the end of the month.
