It’s been nearly one year since a beautiful 18-year-old teen who had just graduated high school was killed in a head-on collision with a pickup truck while she was riding a dirt bike on Wildwood Drive at South Winter Hawk Drive in St. Augustine. Everyone wondered what happened to the investigation into the pickup driver who hit her head-on. Several people had call in reports to law enforcement about a man who had been seen driving erratically before the crash with the girl. The teen was yards away from her home at the time of the collision. She was not wearing a helmet.
Now an arrest has been made. After nearly a year, the FHP arrested a 51-year-old man and charged him with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of the crash. He will face a DUI manslaughter charge that can bring up to 15 years in state prison. After the July 8 crash, a blood test was taken on the driver and investigators found Xanax, cocaine and methadone in his system.
Our condolences again are extended to this family for the loss of this young lady who had a job a Publix and was known by everyone. She and a friend received some publicity when they turned in $2,000 they found in a bag at the store.
Last December, friends and family gathered near the FHP station in St. Augustine to say they were not happy with the slow investigation and no arrest. In many cases, the drug must be analyzed once then go to a second lab to confirm the analysis. Unfortunately, this takes time.
The family would be well-advised, if they have not already, to consult with an experienced Florida ATV accident lawyer to determine what response law enforcement had to the many calls that came into police about this out-of-control driver, observed on I-95, SR 207 and Wildwood Road. The municipality may share some of the blame in failing to respond to reports sooner to avert this tragic collision.
Source: http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2011-07-01/arrest-made-burchfield-death#.Tg_mAoKZTfo
