Photo by: (WPEC)
A tragic high-speed crash that claimed the life of a young woman in Boynton Beach earlier this year has led to criminal counts and renewed calls for road safety.
The collision occurred on April 6 at the intersection of Military Trail and Cedar Point Boulevard, involving a 2019 Chevrolet Corvette driven by DJD, 40, and a 2020 Toyota Camry carrying two women.
According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), D was traveling southbound at an estimated 135 mph in a 45 mph zone when he struck the Camry as it attempted a left turn. The impact was so violent PBSO said it split the Camry in two, ejecting Natalie Pierre, 25, from the vehicle along with her seat and door. Pierre was pronounced dead at the scene. The Camry’s driver sustained minor injuries, while D was critically injured.
According to the arrest affidavit, a bottle of Jack Daniel’s liqueur was found inside D’s vehicle, and toxicology reports confirmed he was under the influence of alcohol and controlled substances at the time of the crash. Blood tests revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.126 g/100mL shortly after the crash and 0.085 g/100mL in a later law enforcement draw. Additional substances detected included Hydromorphone and Morphine.
Event Data Recorder (EDR) analysis showed D accelerated from 124 mph to 135 mph in the seconds leading up to the crash and only applied the brakes half a second before impact, according to the PBSO report.
On October 22, D was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail for:
- Vehicular Homicide
- DUI Manslaughter
- 4 counts Reckless Driving Causing Injury and Property Damage
- 4 counts DUI Causing Injury and Property Damage
D appeared in court on Thursday morning for first appearance.
In the moments following the crash, local residents sprang into action.
Adam Favereaux, who lives nearby, described hearing what sounded like an explosion before seeing flames engulfing the Corvette. He rushed to the scene and pulled D from the burning vehicle, dragging him 30 feet to safety.
“I asked him if he was okay, and he said he wasn’t. He was in a lot of pain,” Favereaux told CBS12. “I grabbed him underneath the shoulders and dragged him about 30 feet to safety.”
Another neighbor, Glen Rogers Jr., comforted the surviving Camry passenger.
“As soon as I looked around, it was pure carnage,” Rogers said. “All I could do was offer a little condolence, uncap her water, and give her something to drink to help her calm down.”
Pierre, a Boynton Beach resident, was known for her compassion and dedication to working with children on the autism spectrum. Her death has left the community mourning. A GoFundMe page was created in her honor to support funeral expenses and memorial efforts.
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Source: cbs12
