MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – The teenager who has been charged as an adult in a deadly New Year’s Day crash was back in a South Florida courtroom on Tuesday.
Prosecutors argue it’s obvious the community was not safe back in January when the deadly crash happened.
They said if 16-year-old Alex Garcia, who is being charged as adult, is allowed out of jail before his trial, there’s no guarantee he won’t get behind the wheel again and do more harm.
The aftermath tells a tragic story.
Four people were killed when an SUV doing well over 100 miles per hour t-boned them at 79th Avenue and Flagler Street.
Prosecutors said Smith didn’t have a driver’s license, had alcohol and marijuana in his system and didn’t hit the brake until a second before the crash.
Two teenagers in the SUV with Smith suffered “life-changing” and “disfiguring injuries,” according to prosecutors.
Garcia, who essentially had to be cut from the driver’s seat, walked away from the crash virtually unscathed.
He turned himself in to authorities last month, facing charges of vehicular homicide, DUI manslaughter and DUI with serious bodily injuries.
Prosecutors want Garcia to await trial behind bars.
The trooper who investigated the crash was the first witness called on Tuesday.
She described a horrific scene in which the victims in the crash were violently impacted, with one even being ejected from the vehicle despite all four having had their seat belts on.
The trooper also recalled an exchange with the defendant’s mother at the scene of the crash, who claims she gave her son the keys to her SUV to sit in the car and listen to music.
Essentially, prosecutors argue, if the defendant couldn’t be trusted to not drive the night of the accident, if he’s allowed to go home, what will happen?
The defense stressed, for purposes of allowing the suspect to be released on bond, that he surrendered to authorities, did not try to evade them and has cooperated with their investigation.
The hearing will continue on Wednesday, where the judge will make a ruling on whether Garcia will be granted bond.
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