MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A man who allegedly was driving drunk before crashing into a disabled vehicle last week on the MacArthur Causeway appeared in court Tuesday.
Nicholas Devon Robinson, 24, of Maryland, is now facing a vehicular homicide charge after the victim in the crash died.
He was initially arrested on charges of reckless driving causing serious bodily injury and DUI involving serious bodily injury following the Friday morning crash.
“We’re here because he’s driving at a high rate of speed, I guess shortly after midnight on February 21st and smashes into a car going west on Macarthur Causeway,” Miami-Dade County Judge Mindy Glazer said as she was reviewing the arrest report. “They say he was driving 100 miles per hour in a 40 mile per hour zone, he had slurred speech, odor of alcoholic beverage. In fact, he didn’t even know he hit another car. He said ‘did you get the other car?’ He struck the vehicle, the victim was ejected and he said he’s out celebrating his birthday. So I guess it was his birthday and the victim’s death day.”
According to Miami Beach police, the crash occurred around 12:30 a.m. Friday on the Causeway at Terminal Isle.
“One of our officers observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed westbound on the MacArthur Causeway, approaching Terminal Isle,” Miami Beach police Officer Chris Bess said.
Police said Robinson misjudged a turn, losing control of the silver Polestar he was driving and slamming into a green Jeep Wrangler that was disabled on the left side of the westbound lanes.
The officer who witnessed the crash had just helped push the Jeep to the side of the roadway prior to the crash, authorities said.
Police said a 19-year-old woman identified as Gabriela Alejandra Rios Flores was inside the Jeep at the time of impact and was ejected from the vehicle.
According to the arrest report, Flores was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition. She has since died from her injuries.
Police said the arresting sergeant pointed his gun at Robinson after the crash and ordered him out of the vehicle.
According to the report, Robinson spontaneously told the sergeant, “Why are you stopping me? It’s my birthday and did you get the other car?”
Police said Robinson appeared to be “completely unaware” that he had just been involved in a crash.
According to the report, Robinson vomited after being placed in the back of a police vehicle and had slurred speech and smelled of alcohol.
He admitted to being out, celebrating his birthday at a lounge prior to the crash, the report stated.
The report states that Robinson turned 24 on Thursday.
According to the report, Robinson refused a voluntary blood draw, but a search warrant for a blood draw was eventually obtained.
The results of the blood test are pending.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Robinson was being held at the Metrowest Detention Center on a $200,000 bond.