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Marquet Robinson Struck, Killed While Putting Out Traffic Cones in West Palm Beach

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Marquet-Robison-300x169Marquet Robinson of Palm Beach County, Florida was struck and killed by Emmanuel Ernevil while working on Southern Boulevard on March 22.

According to Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred on the far right lane of the eastbound Southern Boulevard in West Palm Beach on Wednesday before 8 a.m.

Robinson, 25, was placing traffic cones behind his work truck and trailer when Ernevil, who was driving a 2000 Mercedes in the same lane, lost control and crashed into Robinson’s truck.

The impact threw Robinson over the guardrail and into the grass, and injured another worker. Ernevil’s vehicle continued out of control and struck a Silverado, which in turn struck a third vehicle that crashed into a tree. The drivers of the other vehicles and the worker with Robinson only suffered minor injuries.

Robinson was rushed to St. Mary’s Medical Center where he later died, the sheriff’s office said. The exact cause of the crash is still unclear. Investigators say Robinson’s trailer was illuminated with an arrow to let other drivers know to avoid the lane. News sources did not say if Ernevil had any charges pending.

Another accident was reported on Sunday on South Dixie Highway in Homestead. 8th-grade teacher Saryna Parker of South Dade Middle School was arrested for reportedly crashing into another vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol with her 10-year-old son in the backseat. No one was injured in the crash.

Parker, 43, faces several charges, including DUI causing property damage, DUI, child abuse, and battery of a police officer after she allegedly kicked her arresting officer in the groin. She was released on bond. It is unclear if she has sought legal representation.

According to the arrest report, the crash occurred near SW 182nd Avenue on South Dixie Highway in Homestead. Parker was driving a Cadillac with her son when she rear-ended a another vehicle. The police officer who arrived at the scene reported that Parker had a strong smell of alcohol on her breath and her speech was slurred.

Parker reportedly told the deputy that she “wasn’t driving” and tried to leave the scene to use a restroom. After she was detained, she agreed to a field sobriety test, but refused to take a breath test. The responding officer called a Florida Highway Patrol trooper to perform the test. According to the FHP trooper, Parker was swaying on her feet and couldn’t keep her balance during the exercise. He also reported that Parker touched him on the back and told him that she wanted to “kiss him.”

The arrest report said Parker was very “uncooperative” and “belligerent” during her arrest. She reportedly kicked an officer in the groin region when she was placed in the back of a patrol car and kept kicking the car door once she was secured inside.

A spokesperson for Miami-Dade Public Schools released a statement to news sources saying Parker “will be terminated” from her position as a probationary school teacher. She won’t be allowed to work for schools again.

Source: 3.22.17 Robinson Fatal Crash Palm Beach.pdf

Miami Marlins Pitcher Jose Fernandez to Blame for Fatal Boat Crash

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Jose-Fernandez-300x243Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez was the driver of the boat that crashed into a jetty off South Beach, killing him, Emilio Jesus Macias, and Eduardo Rivero, a report by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation concluded last week.

Fernandez, 24, was the owner of the boat. The crash occurred on September 25 at a jetty north of Government Cut off the coast of South Beach. Rivero, 25, and Macias, 27, had met Fernandez through his girlfriend. Rivero was a sales associate at Carnival Cruise Lines and Macias was a financial adviser at Wells Fargo.

According to news sources, the trio had been drinking in downtown Miami before they took an impromptu boat ride at 2:42 a.m. They drove the boat through Government Cut and into the Atlantic Ocean. Less than a mile offshore, the boat turned back and headed toward Government Cut. They crashed into the north jetty at 3:02 a.m. All three men died.

Court documents say the bodies had a “strong odor of alcohol,” and a toxicology report from the medical examiner’s officer revealed that Fernandez had alcohol and cocaine in his system at the time of the fatal crash. Marcia and Rivero also had alcohol in their systems, but no cocaine.

Fernandez reportedly had a blood alcohol level of .167, which is double the legal limit in Florida. Marcias’ was .04 and Rivero’s was .06, meaning neither of them were legally drunk, the toxicology report concluded.

The initial official report did not say who was driving, but the final report that was released Thursday concluded that Fernandez was the driver. The damage to his body matched the damage on the boat’s center console, and his DNA was found on the steering wheel and throttle.

Jose-Fernandez-300x169Investigators believe the boat was traveling at 65 miles per hour, which is the vessel’s top speed. The high rate of speed coupled with Fernandez’s impaired faculties, the darkness of the night, and the navigational hazards of the area are all factors that led to the fatal boating crash.

The report counters Fernandez’s family attorney’s claim that the athlete was not the driver at the time of the crash. The lawyer claimed that Fernandez had a phone conversation with a witness who heard the pitcher shout at someone to keep left moments before the crash, sources say. But phone records reportedly show that the witness, Yuri Perez, spoke to Fernandez approximately 12 minutes before the crash.

The findings of the report will likely play heavily into the negligence and personal injury lawsuits filed by the families of Rivero and Macias against Fernandez’s estate. The relatives of the two men are seeking $2 million each in restitution.

Autopsies showed that the cause of death for the trio was blunt force trauma. Their physical injuries were key for determining who was steering the boat at the time of the crash. According to the final report, had Fernandez survived the crash, he would have likely been charged with several crimes, including manslaughter.

Fernandez was a Cuban-born pitcher who regarded as one of the cornerstone talents of the Marlins franchise. He arrived in the U.S. in 2008 and was drafted by the Marlins in 2011. He played his first major league season in 2013 and was named National League Rookie of the Year. His estate is estimated to be valued at $2 to $3 million.

Source: 3.16.17 Fernandez Causes Fatal Boating Crash.pdf