HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — A Tampa, Florida, woman on probation for a previous manslaughter conviction involving drunken driving was arrested Sunday after a fatal high-speed crash into a car dealership, authorities said.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Jennifer Carvajal, 24, was “clocked three times” just before 2 a.m. traveling west on Interstate 4 at 111 mph and passed a trooper without stopping, WFLA reported.
In an attempt to evade the trooper, Carvajal reportedly veered right and hit an embankment, sending her Hyundai Elantra airborne before crashing into a truck parked at the Gator Ford dealership, WTVT reported.
Troopers confirmed that a 19-year-old passenger in Carvajal’s vehicle was thrown into the car’s back seat and two other passengers, aged 20 and 22, were ejected, leading to the 22-year-old’s death, the TV station reported.
Carvajal, who suffered only minor injuries, faces multiple charges, including driving under the influence and reckless driving, both stations reported. It remained unclear Monday how the passenger’s death will affect additional charges.
Court records show Carvajal was previously arrested and convicted after running a red light and striking and killing 52-year-old Keith Allen Davis, WTVT reported.
Carvajal, who was 16 at the time of the 2014 crash, was convicted of DUI manslaughter and driving without a valid license, WFLA reported.
Carvajal was sentenced in 2016 to five years in prison – with credit for the one year she served in jail awaiting trial – plus five years of probation, WTVT reported.
She was released in October 2019, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
Cox Media Group
