According to the Lakeland Ledger, Jason Torres, a 24-year-old Lakeland, FL man, was arrested Wednesday, July 8, 2009 in connection with a fatal car crash last February on County Road 540-A in Lakeland, FL.
Torres is charged with two counts of DUI manslaughter as a result of the Feb. 5 crash that killed two Lakeland, FL men. At the time of the crash, Pedro Rivera, 28, of Pinedale Avenue in Lakeland, FL, and Cedrick Green, 29, of Providence Reserve Loop in Lakeland, FL, were both passengers in Torres' vehicle.
Authorities report that at approximately 11 p.m., Torres was traveling westbound on C.R. 540-A, near Thousand Oaks Drive in Lakeland, FL. At that time, Torres attempted to pass the vehicle in front of him in the inside lane. As he entered the outside lane, Torres sped up and lost control of the vehicle.
His Honda vehicle struck a concrete curb and rotated counter-clockwise while traveling west into the outside lane. The Polk County Sheriff's Office reported that the Honda crashed into a utility pole on the north side of C.R. 540-A, crushing the passenger side. The impact forced Rivera, the front seat passenger, toward the back of the vehicle. Green, who was sitting in the back seat of the vehicle, was ejected. Both men died at the scene.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office reported Rivera was the only one wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
Torres' injuries were minor and he agreed to have blood drawn by EMS personnel. The samples were sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement lab for analysis and later revealed that Torres' blood alcohol level was .118. Under Florida law, drivers with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher are deemed "under the influence."
After receiving the lab results, authorities obtained a warrant for Torres' arrest, but did not find him at his Lakeland, FL address. The Polk County Sheriff's Office reported that further investigation led deputies to believe Torres was living in Massachusetts.
Authorities issued a warrant for Torres' arrest last month. He was captured in Chelsea, Mass., by the U.S. Marshal's Office and Massachusetts State Police.
Torres is scheduled to be brought back to Polk County to face charges. Meanwhile, he is being held in the barracks of the Massachusetts State Police without bail.
As a personal injury attorney, practicing in Polk County, FL, I represent victims of automobile accidents. In the instant case, it is reassuring for the victims' families to know that the at fault driver will now be facing criminal charges. In a personal injury action, a conviction is necessary in order to seek punitive damages in the case.
