The driver who the Florida Highway Patrol believes is to blame for the July 2024 collision in Jacksonville that claimed the life of 7-year-old Serenity Holland was taken into custody by Leon County authorities.
Quintarrius Donald was taken into custody in Tallahassee on Thursday, according to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. He is currently being charged with vehicular homicide and driving with a suspended license in Duval County. According to the sheriff’s office, he has been charged with driving under the influence and driving without a license twice in Leon County.
Holland’s mother was driving her and Serenity on the Buckman Bridge when the collision occurred, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, and the arrest was made ten months later. According to the crash report, Donald struck the rear of their vehicle at 95 mph, which is 30 mph over the posted speed limit.
The fact that an arrest was made so many months after the incident hasn’t lessened the grief over Serenity’s passing, but it is aiding in the family’s healing, Holland’s sister tells Action News Jax.
“It’s just been like a long 10 months for me and my family,” said Shawndell McGriff, Serenity’s sister. “There were definitely times where I didn’t think he would get arrested.”
According to Florida law, vehicle homicides are considered second-degree crimes, which are punishable by up to 15 years in jail. Although Donald has not yet been found guilty, McGriff intends to pressure state legislators to draft a new law that will impose tougher penalties on drivers found guilty of similar offenses.
“Life is so precious and it’s like they give people a few years for killing someone in a car accident,” McGriff said, “I want to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
Following his arrest, Donald was sent to the Leon County jail. Action News Jax is trying to find out when he will be sent to Duval County to face the allegations against him in front of a court.
