Wilmer Omar Membreno Cruz of Hollywood, Florida is facing DUI charges after causing a crash on Mother’s Day that killed Guerda Franhille, also of Hollywood.
Membreno Cruz, 34, faces charges of negligent manslaughter, DUI with damage, and driving without a license. Records show he is being held without bond. It is unclear if he has acquired the services of an attorney.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the alleged crash happened at around 9 p.m. on May 12 at the intersection of Taft Street and 64th Avenue in Hollywood. Franhille, 48, was driving home in a Toyota Scion east on Taft Street when someone driving a 2018 Toyota Tacoma crashed into her vehicle.
The impact pushed Franhille’s vehicle into a Mazda pickup, and the Tacoma continued into a gas station and struck a Ford F350, the affidavit said. Franhille was pronounced dead at the scene. It is unclear if anyone else was injured.
The driver of the Tacoma was identified as Membreno Cruz. He reportedly didn’t have a driver’s license and police identified him by his Honduras passport. He was allegedly under the influence at that time of the crash.
The officers who arrested Membreno Cruz reported that his eyes were bloodshot and watery and a strong smell of alcohol emanated from his breath as he spoke. Membreno Cruz’s blood alcohol level was .285, which more than three times the legal limit of .08 in Florida.
Another DUI incident was reported in Delray Beach last month. Police officer Marques Brown was arrested on April 28 for allegedly causing a car accident while under the influence.
Brown, 41, was charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence and causing $5,000 in property damage. He was released on his own recognizance a few hours after his arrest. Attorney information was not available.
According to the police report, the crash occurred at around 10 p.m. on April 28 in the 400 block of North Ocean Boulevard. Someone driving a Tesla rear-ended a vehicle driven by someone identified as Tatum Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick told investigators that Brown told her he is an off-duty police office and asked her if she was all right, but he didn’t call the police. Fitzpatrick had to do it herself, the report said.
The officer who arrived at the scene reported that Brown’s speech was slurred, he was unsteady on his feet, his breath smelled of alcohol, and his eyes appeared bloodshot and glassy. Brown reportedly admitted to drinking a few hours before the accident.
Brown allegedly agreed to and failed several field sobriety exercises. He refused to take a Breathalyzer test, the report said.
In a statement to the press, the Delray Beach Police Department said that Brown was suspended without pay pending the outcome of the investigation. He has been an officer with the department since 2008.
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Source: 5.14.19 He had a car and alcohol, cops say, but no driver’s license.pdf