Authorities in Florida have charged a Mercedes driver with murder in connection with the deaths of his three passengers after he allegedly ridiculed a state trooper on Interstate 95 before colliding with a tow truck on a Cocoa offramp.
The Office of the State Attorney 18th Judicial Circuit said Thursday that Vernon Hodges, 41, was indicted by the Brevard County Grand Jury on 17 charges related to the high-speed collision that claimed the lives of two ladies and another male in March.
Hodges is charged with the following:
- Three counts of first-degree felony murder, a capital felony punishable by life imprisonment or the death penalty
- Aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude, causing death
- Three counts of DUI manslaughter
- Three counts of vehicular homicide
- Three counts of driving without a driver license or while license suspended or revoked, causing death
- Driving with a suspended or revoked license, causing death
- Driving with a suspended or revoked license, causing serious injury
- DUI with serious bodily injury
- Driving under the influence and causing damage
According to investigators, the fatal incident began at 8:30 a.m. on March 28 when Hodges’ Mercedes-Benz C300 vehicle on I-95 north passed an FHP sergeant at an estimated speed of 100 mph.
According to the FHP, Hodges of Sebastian gestured and waved out the window at the trooper, who then turned on his siren and flashing lights.
According to FHP investigators, Hodges, who hit 110 mph, veered onto the right shoulder to avoid traffic after turning down the exit ramp at State Road 520. According to state investigators, the Mercedes smashed into the back of a flatbed tow truck, destroying the vehicle, and then skidded across the road.
John Youmara, the tow truck driver, was stuck beneath the debris when he was underneath the back of the truck getting it ready to be towed.
Youmara is recuperating after being admitted to the hospital with severe injuries.
According to officials, Hodges’ passengers perished on impact. They were recognised as:
- Alicia M. Carter, 31, of Melbourne,
- Eleasya J. Fulton, 24, of Palm Bay
- Leon Holmes, 41, of Vero Beach
At Holmes Regional Medical Centre, Hodges, was taken to the hospital and then taken into custody. He had a blood alcohol percentage of 0.147, which was higher than the legal limit of 0.08, according to hospital blood tests, officials said.
According to the state attorney’s office, Hodges had a history of prior traffic convictions and license revocations, including DUI cases, refusals to submit to blood or breath testing, and being a repeat traffic offender.
