Bradley Norling of Tarpon Springs, Florida was extradited from California and booked into Broward Main Jail on March 13 for allegedly causing a fatal car crash in 2014 that led to the death of Robert and Nancy Baler.
Norling, 29, is being charged with DUI causing serious injuries and DUI manslaughter. His bond was set at $40,000. He had a court session on Tuesday, but it is unclear if he entered a plea or hired an attorney.
According to the arrest report, the crash occurred in April 2014 at the intersection of East Hallandale Beach Boulevard and South Ocean Drive, less than a mile away from the Balers home. Norling reportedly stopped at a red light at the intersection. He continued driving when the light turned green and struck the Balers who were on foot.
The elderly couple were taken to Memorial Regional Hospital. Nancy Baler suffered serious injuries, but survived. Robert Baler passed away later that day.
Norling allegedly told the police officers who arrived at the scene that he had drank “a couple of beers.” Police reportedly found several empty beer bottles and a cooler full of unopened beer in his car. He purportedly consented to a blood test. The results, which police received weeks later, reportedly showed that his blood alcohol level was higher than the legal limit in the state of Florida. News sources did not say by how much.
It is unclear why it took investigators almost three years to arrest Norling for the alleged charges. Ron Ishoy, a spokesperson for Broward State Attorney’s Office, told the press that a warrant for his arrest was issued in Florida, but he left the state for California and was only apprehended a few days ago.
Another DUI arrest was reported earlier this week. Montana Fisburne, the daughter of Hollywood actor Laurence Fishburne, was arrested last Saturday for reportedly crashing her 2016 Toyota Corolla into a Range Rover on I-95 while under the influence. No one was injured in the crash.
Fishburne, 25, faces charges for DUI, DUI with a blood alcohol reading of .15 or higher, and DUI with property damage. He was taken to Broward County Sheriff’s Office jail and was released later in the day on a $2,500 bond. Sources did not say if she has sought legal representation.
According to the arrest report, the incident occurred on I-95 during the early hours of Saturday near Fishburne’s home in Fort Lauderdale. She allegedly rear-ended a vehicle that had slowed to avoid debris on the highway. Her vehicle sustained severe damage, but she, her passenger, and the driver she struck were uninjured.
The Florida Highway Patrol trooper who arrested Fishburne reported a strong odor of alcohol on her breath and that she appeared “incoherent.” The trooper also reportedly saw an empty wine bottle on floor of Fishburne’s vehicle and a purple stain on the vehicle’s two front seats that smelled like alcohol.
Fishburne failed voluntary field sobriety tests and purportedly blew .177 and .181 during a breath test, which is twice the legal limit in the state. The press could not reach her for comment.