A 47-year-old man from Brandon was tragically killed the morning of Sept. 8 after another driver rear-ended his vehicle, according to local sources. Florida Highway Patrol confirmed the man’s death. Another man, who has not been publicly identified at this time, has been charged with DUI manslaughter in this case. Marsy’s Law prevents police from naming the victims publicly.
According to the information in the report, at around 10:49 a.m., two northbound vehicles, including a sedan and an SUV, were traveling adjacently when the accident occurred. A third vehicle, driven by the suspected individual, reportedly rammed the back of both vehicles, pushing one vehicle into the southbound lanes of County Line Road. A southbound tractor trailer then crashed into the passenger side of the vehicle, killing the victim on site.
The driver in the SUV sustained minor injuries, and the tractor trailer driver escaped unscathed. The driver of the sedan that rammed the rear of both vehicles was arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter. It is not clear from the report what caused police to believe he was drunk at the time of his arrest. No court date has been announced at this time.
If the man is found guilty of DUI manslaughter in a Florida court, he could face jail time along with the loss of his license. His defense attorney will carefully review the facts of the case, as well as any evidence the prosecution may wish to enter into court proceedings. This will contribute to the attorney’s ability to build a compelling defense against the charges filed against the accused man.