Brian Silber Law

Civil Forfeiture Attorney

Free Initial Consultation

(954) 462-3636

Show the Way

Craig Jacob Wilk of Dania Beach, Florida Faces DUI Manslaughter, Vehicular Homicide Charges

By

automobile-automotive-car-1073031-300x178Craig Jacob Wilk of Dania Beach, Florida was arrested on August 7 for his alleged involvement in a collision that killed one woman and injured two others.

Wilk, 34, faces 17 charges including DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, reckless driving causing injury, and possession of cannabis. He was ordered held without bond. The press did not name an attorney for him.

According to Broward Sheriff’s Office, the alleged crash happened at approximately 10:45 p.m. March 26 in the 800 block of East Dania Beach Boulevard. Wilk was reportedly driving a 2015 Volvo S60 at speeds as high as 91 mph. When he attempted to switch lanes, he rear-ended a 2016 Hyundai Sonata, causing it to spin and crash into a concrete pole, court documents stated.

The impact caused Wilk’s vehicle to spin counterclockwise across a raised median and into a guardrail, police said.

The driver of the Hyundai, who was identified as Audrey Jackson of Opa-locka, and her two passengers, identified as Malcolm Clark and John Davis, were seriously injured and taken to Broward Health Medical Center. Jackson, 51, later died from injuries sustained in the crash.

Wilk purportedly consented to a blood alcohol test. The results of the test indicated that his blood alcohol level was 0.16, which is double the legal limit of 0.08 in the state of Florida.

Court records show that Wilk’s has an extensive history of driving violations, including a suspended driver’s license, speeding at 57 mph in a 35 mph zone, and running red lights on three occasions since 2015.

Another case of DUI manslaughter was reported in Palm Beach last week. Jose Ernesto Dominguez of Miami Beach was arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter and DUI causing serious bodily injury for his role in a car crash on the MacArthur Causeway that killed one man and injured another.

Dominguez, 26, was ordered held on $35,000 bond. Attorney information wasn’t available.

According to Palm Beach police, the alleged crash occurred at around 4:30 a.m. July 18 along the MacArthur Causeway. Dominguez was driving a Ford Mustang above the posted speed limit when he crashed into a Toyota Camry driven by Danny Iglesia.

Iglesia and his passenger, who hasn’t been named, were taken to an area hospital in critical condition. Iglesia was later pronounced dead. The condition of his passenger is unknown.

Dominguez was also hospitalized but was later released. When questioned by an officer, he reportedly had bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol. He allegedly told the officer that he was in a hurry to meet someone when the crash occurred.

Dominguez agreed to a blood alcohol test and gave two blood samples. The results of the first sample showed that his blood alcohol level was 0.070 and the second sample, which was taken an hour later, was 0.051, according to the arrest report.

Extrapolating from those results, the arrest report purports that Dominguez’s blood alcohol level might have been higher than .08 when the crash occurred.

Broward County DUI Attorney

If you have been arrested for a DUI, then you should hire an attorney. Contact us to set up a free initial consultation and work with one of Broward County’s most experienced DUI attorneys.

Source: 8.9.19 Fatal crash leads to DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide charges.pdf

Craig Jacob Wilk of Dania Beach, Florida Faces DUI Manslaughter, Vehicular Homicide Charges

By

automobile-automotive-car-1073031-300x178Craig Jacob Wilk of Dania Beach, Florida was arrested on August 7 for his alleged involvement in a collision that killed one woman and injured two others.

Wilk, 34, faces 17 charges including DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, reckless driving causing injury, and possession of cannabis. He was ordered held without bond. The press did not name an attorney for him.

According to Broward Sheriff’s Office, the alleged crash happened at approximately 10:45 p.m. March 26 in the 800 block of East Dania Beach Boulevard. Wilk was reportedly driving a 2015 Volvo S60 at speeds as high as 91 mph. When he attempted to switch lanes, he rear-ended a 2016 Hyundai Sonata, causing it to spin and crash into a concrete pole, court documents stated.

The impact caused Wilk’s vehicle to spin counterclockwise across a raised median and into a guardrail, police said.

The driver of the Hyundai, who was identified as Audrey Jackson of Opa-locka, and her two passengers, identified as Malcolm Clark and John Davis, were seriously injured and taken to Broward Health Medical Center. Jackson, 51, later died from injuries sustained in the crash.

Wilk purportedly consented to a blood alcohol test. The results of the test indicated that his blood alcohol level was 0.16, which is double the legal limit of 0.08 in the state of Florida.

Court records show that Wilk’s has an extensive history of driving violations, including a suspended driver’s license, speeding at 57 mph in a 35 mph zone, and running red lights on three occasions since 2015.

Another case of DUI manslaughter was reported in Palm Beach last week. Jose Ernesto Dominguez of Miami Beach was arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter and DUI causing serious bodily injury for his role in a car crash on the MacArthur Causeway that killed one man and injured another.

Dominguez, 26, was ordered held on $35,000 bond. Attorney information wasn’t available.

According to Palm Beach police, the alleged crash occurred at around 4:30 a.m. July 18 along the MacArthur Causeway. Dominguez was driving a Ford Mustang above the posted speed limit when he crashed into a Toyota Camry driven by Danny Iglesia.

Iglesia and his passenger, who hasn’t been named, were taken to an area hospital in critical condition. Iglesia was later pronounced dead. The condition of his passenger is unknown.

Dominguez was also hospitalized but was later released. When questioned by an officer, he reportedly had bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol. He allegedly told the officer that he was in a hurry to meet someone when the crash occurred.

Dominguez agreed to a blood alcohol test and gave two blood samples. The results of the first sample showed that his blood alcohol level was 0.070 and the second sample, which was taken an hour later, was 0.051, according to the arrest report.

Extrapolating from those results, the arrest report purports that Dominguez’s blood alcohol level might have been higher than .08 when the crash occurred.

Broward County DUI Attorney

If you have been arrested for a DUI, then you should hire an attorney. Contact us to set up a free initial consultation and work with one of Broward County’s most experienced DUI attorneys.

Source: 8.9.19 Fatal crash leads to DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide charges.pdf

Utah Family Visiting South Florida Hit By Drunk Driver in Dania Beach

By

Utah-Family-300x168A family of seven from Eagle Mountain, Utah were hit by a vehicle on March 26 as they were walking back to their hotel after dinner at a restaurant. Raquel Leota, 24, lost her leg and her 10-year-old brother Tyson Wensel was severely injured.

According to Broward Sheriff’s Office, the incident took place in Dania Beach. The family had flown into Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport over the weekend for an annual family cruise scheduled on Monday morning.

They checked into the Fairfield Inn Hotel and chose to walk to the nearby Rustic Inn Crabhouse for dinner on Sunday evening. As they were walking back to the hotel along SW 42nd Street a little before 8 p.m., a 2005 Chevrolet SSR reportedly switched lanes and veered into them, hitting the family and running through a fence before crashing into a concrete light pole.

Witnesses reportedly saw the driver trying to pass another car as he drove west on SW 42nd Street. When he crossed into the eastbound lanes, he reportedly lost control and crashed into the Utah family, who were walking on a wide stretch of grass across the eastbound lanes.

Three members of the family—Raquel Leota, her husband Thomas Leota, and Tyson Wensel—were hit by the vehicle. They were taken to Broward Health Medical Center for treatment along with the driver of the Chevrolet SSR, who has been identified as 57-year-old James Howell of Pembroke Pines.

James-Howell-300x185Raquel’s leg was damaged beyond repair and had to be severed. Her brother Wensel suffered a concussion, bruised lungs, a fractured foot, and lacerations on his right leg. Thomas Leota wasn’t seriously injured, and Howell only suffered minor injuries and was released on Sunday night.

Broward Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide unit believes that alcohol and speed may have been factors in the crash, which is still under investigation.

“This is tragic, a family down here for a good time, getting ready to go on a cruise, and their lives were changed in an instant,” said BSO spokesman Mike Jachles in a statement to the press.

The family set up a Gofundme page for Raquel Leota and Wensel’s medical expenses on Monday which says “a drunk driver lost control of his truck” and hit the family. Raquel Leota and Wensel are still in intensive care at Broward Health, according to the page.

The Florida legislature has passed some of the toughest DUI laws in the U.S. because of all the deaths, particularly of young people, that have been caused by drunk drivers. A driver convicted for driving under the influence may receive a combined sentence that includes community service, vehicle impoundment, driver’s license suspension, classes on the dangers of drunk driving, fines, payment of restitution where appropriate, and court costs.

Jail time depends on the type of DUI case. DUI causing serious bodily injury is classified as a third-degree felony and carries a penalty of up to five years in prison or five years of probation, and a $5,000 fine. A driver convicted of this charge may also have to pay restitution to compensate the victim for his or her losses.

Source: 3.27.17 Utah Family Car Crash Dania Beach.pdf