The Florida Highway Patrol has announced the arrest of a Sebastian man following a horrific crash last week on an Interstate 95 exit ramp that left three people dead and several others injured.
Vernon Hodges, 41, of Sebastian, now faces a staggering 17 serious charges, including DUI manslaughter and capital felony murder, after being released from the hospital where he was treated for injuries sustained in the incident.
Authorities say the collision occurred when Hodges, allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, lost control of his vehicle during a high-speed chase.
The crash caused extensive property damage and claimed the lives of three individuals, whose identities have not yet been released pending family notifications. According to investigators, Hodges’ blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was well above the legal limit of 0.08 g/100 mL at the time of the wreck.
The Florida Highway Patrol reports that Hodges attempted to flee from law enforcement prior to the crash, exacerbating an already dangerous situation. His reckless actions, officials allege, directly led to the devastating outcome.
In addition to the fatalities, multiple bystanders and passengers suffered serious injuries, further compounding the tragedy.
Hodges’ arrest comes with a litany of charges reflecting the severity of the incident and his alleged disregard for public safety. Among them are three counts each of DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, and capital felony murder—charges that could carry the harshest penalties under Florida law.
He also faces multiple felony counts tied to reckless driving, fleeing law enforcement, and operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license. Court records reveal this is not Hodges’ first brush with the law; he has two prior DUI convictions, one within the last decade, raising questions about how he was still able to get behind the wheel.
The full list of charges filed against Hodges includes:
- Reckless Driving with Property Damage
- Reckless Driving with Serious Bodily Injury
- DUI with BAC Over 0.08 g/100 mL
- Third DUI (Prior Conviction Within 10 Years)
- DUI with Property Damage
- DUI with Serious Bodily Injury
- DUI Manslaughter (3 counts)
- Fleeing and Attempting to Elude Law Enforcement
- Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding at a High Rate of Speed
- Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding at a High Rate of Speed Resulting in Death
- No Valid Driver’s License Resulting in Death and/or Serious Bodily Injury (4 counts)
- Capital Felony Murder (3 counts)
- Vehicular Homicide (3 counts)
Hodges is currently being held without bond as the investigation continues. Authorities have not released additional details about the victims or the circumstances leading up to the chase but say they are working diligently to piece together the events.
FEATURED EVENTS
