On Sunday, May 18th, Tony Alvarez was heading home from his overnight shift as a security guard at a condominium in South Beach. The 29-year-old, who was soon to be married, was turning left onto Northwest 57th street from 7th street in Miami when he was broadsided by a black SUV. The driver of the SUV ran the red light and straight into Alvarez, killing him instantly.
The SUV driver fled the scene of the fatal hit and run accident, but eyewitnesses and police officials tracked him down and arrested him. When they did, they realized that he smelled of alcohol and his eyes were bloodshot. Alcohol testing would reveal that the driver was one and a half times over the legal limit and had a BAC of .120.
Police officers arrested the driver, who they identified as Alexei Gonzalez, and charged him with DUI, DUI Manslaughter, and leaving the scene of an accident with death. Upon arrest, Mr. Gonzalez told officers that his light was green and that the fatal DUI accident was not his fault. Yet red light cameras disagreed and showed that Mr. Gonzalez ran the red light, killing Tony Alvarez. Gonzalez is being held on $100,000 bond.
DUI accidents are unfortunately very common in South Florida and Miami. The state of Florida as a whole ranks third in the nation for DUI fatalities and over 700 people are killed in Florida each year as a result of a drunk driver. Yet not all DUI accidents cause fatalities–and thousands more people are injured each year because of drunk drivers in Florida. In 2011 alone, more than 55,722 tickets were issued for DUI.
If you or someone you love is injured in a DUI accident in Miami, it is important to seek legal help immediately. An experienced Miami DUI accident attorney can help you and your family through this difficult time and ensure that you receive the compensation you need to fully recover. Drunk drivers can and should be held responsible for their actions.
Contact Miami DUI Accident Lawyer if you or someone you love has been injured in a DUI related accident in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, or anywhere in the State of Florida, you need an experienced Miami car accident lawyer on your side. Contact the Dante Law Firm, P.A. to learn more about all of your legal options. Call us at 1-888-920-HURT or 305-949-2526 today to discuss your case.
(954) 365-0000