SUNRISE, Fla. – A Broward County man is facing serious charges after police said he caused a deadly crash last month.
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It happened just before 6 p.m. on March 11 at the intersection of Flamingo Road and Northwest Eighth Street in Sunrise.
According to police, officers first arrived to the crash scene and found both vehicles badly damaged.
The suspect, identified as 49-year-old Pablo Baquero, was driving a 2015 Tesla and the victim was driving a 2021 GMC Terrain, authorities said.
Police said the victim, identified as 37-year-old Melissa Dume, was trapped inside her vehicle when they arrived, and once she was removed, rescue crews immediately began life-saving treatment, as she did not have a pulse, before rushing her to Broward Health Medical Center.
Dume was pronounced dead on March 14. She was not able to be interviewed by investigators as she never regained consciousness following the crash, according to an arrest report.
Investigators said the victim was making a left turn onto Eighth Street when her vehicle was struck by the Tesla.
It was determined by police that Baquero was traveling 45 mph over the posted speed limit, which was 45 mph, in a highly populated area near Sawgrass Mills Mall during a busy time of day.
Using video evidence captured from multiple sources, including red light cameras and a Tesla vehicle camera, investigators determined the high rate of speed combined with a “last-minute lane change” revealed that Baquero “was trying to beat the light at NW 8th Street.”
An arrest report also stated that Baquero had a passenger in the front seat who was 15 years old. Both said they were not hurt in the crash, police said.
Baquero is facing several charges, including vehicular homicide.
As of Monday, he was being held in jail without bond.