Driver Pleads Guilty to DUI Manslaughter in Fatal Selmon Expressway Collision
Dec 27, 2019
Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) December 27, 2019 – A 31-year-old driver pleaded guilty to multiple charges of driving under the influence in a deadly car accident on Lee Roy Selmon Expressway in Tampa, Florida. The multi-vehicle crash in August 2017 resulted in the death of a Tampa family of three that included an 8-year-old girl.
Prosecutors said the driver, Amber Perera, was intoxicated with alcohol and drugs when the fiery collision occurred. She pleaded guilty to nine charges including evidence tampering, leaving the scene of a death and three counts of DUI manslaughter. The driver caries a combined maximum prison sentence of more than 91 years. She was also charged with DUI resulting in property damage, reckless driving resulting in property damage, DUI resulting in seriously bodily injury and reckless driving resulting in serious bodily injury.
“The irresponsible actions of a single driver led to the death of an entire family,” commented Robert Joyce, a Tampa personal injury attorney with Joyce & Reyes, who was not involved with the case. “Getting behind the wheel of a car while being intoxicated jeopardizes the safety of others on the road. Anyone who has suffered injuries due to an accident with a drunk driver should speak to an attorney to find out about the possibility of obtaining compensation.”
Perera’s Kia Optima was traveling east when it crashed into the back of the Tampa family’s Hyundai by the West Euclid Avenue exit. Witnesses told authorities they did not see the Kia brake prior to the collision. Data obtained from Perera’s car revealed that she had been speeding at 121 mph a few seconds before the crash.
The impact sent the family’s vehicle into westbound traffic. It struck an Infiniti and a Jeep before immediately catching fire and killing the family of three onboard. The Jeep driver suffered serious injuries to her back that required surgery. Perera continued driving until her vehicle lost a tire.
Perera confessed to hiding her blood samples at Tampa General Hospital. Investigators later obtained additional blood samples. They found that her blood alcohol level was 0.10, which is significantly above Florida’s legal limit of 0.08. Authorities said she had bought beer twice on the day of the crash. In addition, court records indicated Perera’s blood contained high amounts of multiple marijuana compounds.
Learn more at https://www.joyceandreyespa.com/
Joyce and Reyes Law Firm, P.A.
307 S Hyde Park Ave
Tampa, FL 33606
Call: 813.251.2007
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