Higinio Jeronimo of West Palm Beach, Florida was arrested on December 26 for his alleged involvement in a Christmas Day rollover crash on Interstate 95 that killed two people.
Jeronimo, 45, is facing charges of DUI manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, DUI property damage, and driving with a suspended license involving a death.
According to the arrest report, the alleged car crash occurred at around 3 p.m. on Christmas Day on the northbound lanes of I-95 between Boynton Beach and Gateway boulevards. Jeronimo was driving a vehicle with two passengers on board when the crash happened.
Jeronimo reportedly told investigators that he had dropped off a friend in Pompano Beach and was driving to his West Palm Beach home when a vehicle cut him off. He said he was forced to swerve left to avoid a collision and then lost control of his vehicle, the report said.
Jeronimo’s vehicle rolled over several times before stopping on its left side between two lanes on the I-95. Both his passengers died in the crash. They were identified Domingo Pablo Bautista and Luis Ramos Pablo, both 23 and of West Palm Beach.
Pablo suffered a severe head injury in the front passenger seat and was found dead on the highway. Bautista, who wasn’t wearing his seatbelt, was thrown out of the vehicle and also died at the scene.
Jeronimo suffered extensive injuries and was taken to Delray Medical Center for surgery. Investigators claim to have smelled alcohol on his breath, both at the scene of the crash and during his interview at the hospital. but Jeronimo told investigators he didn’t have anything to drink after December 24, according to the arrest report.
DUI charges generally carry serious penalties. Florida has passed tough DUI laws because of all the deaths, particularly of youth, that have been caused by drunk driving. Local police departments and the highway patrol are required to have a zero-tolerance standard when enforcing DUI laws. As a result, the state prosecutes an enormous number of DUI cases every year.
In addition to some serious jail time, a DUI conviction also includes fines, mandatory periods of probation, community service, driving school, drivers license suspension, and several other requirements. First time DUI offenders in cases that don’t involve serious injuries or death usually only receive probation and other special conditions, but no jail time.
Florida DUI Attorney
If you have been involved in a DUI car crash, then you should hire an attorney. Contact us to set up a free initial consultation and work with one of Florida’s most experienced DUI attorneys.
Source: 12.28.18 Driver charged with DUI manslaughter in Christmas Day crash that killed two.pdf