PLANT CITY, FL – As of Monday, a woman who was responsible for being impaired and causing a fatal crash in Plant City in 2021 is expected to face several decades in prison.
FOX 13 News said the woman, Jennifer Carvajal, is expected to face anywhere between 31 years to life in prison. Her official sentencing is scheduled for May 30.
Last week, Carvjal was offered a plea deal, which included 50 years of prison time. Her lawyer tried to bargain for 25 years, which the state denied. On Monday, Feb 24., Carvajal opted for an open plea rather than going through a trial jury. As such, she will face the following charges: DUI manslaughter, Vehicular homicide, DUI with serious bodily injury (three counts), Reckless driving with serious bodily injury, Driving with license suspended or revoked, DUI, 2nd conviction, DUI with property damage or personal injury (two counts).
On the night of the crash, Carvajal, 24 then, was driving a vehicle at a high rate of 111 mph on I-4 and was accompanied by her cousin and his girlfriend. A Florida Highway Patrol trooper attempted to pull her over, and Carvajal continued until the car went airborne and she crashed into a car dealership. Carvajal’s cousin suffered fatal wounds, while his girlfriend was left with two broken legs.
At the time of the crash, Carvjal was already on probation for a similar incident in 2014. On this particular night, she was driving intoxicated, ran a red light, and ran over a local man, leading to his death. She served time for driving impaired as well.
If you were injured or lost a family member to a collision caused by a DUI driver, it’s vital you seek out compassionate and premier legal representation from Whittel & Melton, LLC as soon as possible. The sooner you seek help from our Tampa car accident lawyer, the sooner they can help you devise a legal plan of action focused on accountability and justice. Don’t wait. Call our Tampa office at 866-608-5529 or online for a free consultation.