FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A woman accused of driving the wrong way on the Sawgrass Expressway and slamming into another car head-on, killing two women inside, has been arrested, the Florida Highway Patrol said Monday.
FHP Sgt. Mark Wysocky said Kayla Mendoza was arrested on charges of DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide and driving without a license causing death.
Escorted by state troopers, Mendoza arrived at the main Broward County jail by ambulance on a gurney and with her face covered. She was later moved to Paul Rein Detention Facility in Pompano Beach, a jail designed to treat inmates with mental and medical needs.
The toxicology report for Mendoza shows that she had a blood-alcohol level of .15 percent, nearly twice the legal limit of .08 percent, and traces of marijuana in her system when her car slammed into another car, killing Marisa Catronio and Kaitlyn Nicole Ferrante.
Mendoza, 21, wrote "2 drunk 2 care" on Twitter just hours before the November 2013 crash that killed the 21-year-old women.
"Justice is being served," Christine Ferrante said of the woman accused of killing her daughter. "She's finally getting what she deserves for killing Katie and Marissa."
Ashley Ferrante said she needs to see her sister's killer in that jail jumpsuit.
"She made her bed and she has to lie in this now," she said.
Gary Catronio said Mendoza's arrest is "one step closer, there's never going to be closure, but to justice" for his daughter.