Man convicted of DUI manslaughter in crash that killed girlfriend, unborn baby

Photo: Mike Cazalas, Public Information Officer

On Wednesday, a jury found P guilty of DUI manslaughter after prosecutors said he was under the influence of methamphetamine when he rear-ended a van stopped at a Highway 231 stoplight in March 2024, killing his girlfriend and their unborn child.

P, 39, was sentenced to 30 years in prison—15 years on each count, to run consecutively—and lifetime probation. His girlfriend, K, was 35 weeks pregnant.

Witnesses said the level of meth in P’s blood was well above therapeutic ranges, and evidence showed he never hit the brakes before impact.

“These deaths, this wreck, were a terrible tragedy and they were avoidable,” prosecutor S said. “Two innocent lives were lost all because this defendant decided to smoke meth and get behind a wheel.”

S added, “Whether it is from alcohol, or in this case high levels of methamphetamine, no one is safe from an impaired driver.” He also praised the Panama City Police Department for its thorough investigation.

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Source: Wjhg