A 26-year-old man is facing DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide charges after authorities say he barreled the wrong way down Interstate 95 while drunk, triggering a three-vehicle crash that killed one man and seriously injured another.
Florida Highway Patrol investigators say Edwin Castro was driving a GMC Sierra south in the northbound lanes near Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard shortly before 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 4.
A Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy spotted the pickup traveling the wrong way at roughly 60 to 65 mph and weaving through traffic, according to Castro’s arrest report.
Moments later, Castro allegedly slammed head-on into a Dodge Grand Caravan driven by 68-year-old Angelo George Genova of West Palm Beach.
The impact sent Genova’s vehicle into a Cadillac Eldorado driven by 72-year-old Robert Harold Bradio of Delray Beach.
Genova was pronounced dead at the scene. Bradio suffered a lacerated aorta and other serious injuries and was rushed to St. Mary’s Medical Center.
Troopers said Castro had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and smelled strongly of alcohol after the wreck.
A blood sample taken about five hours later showed Castro’s blood-alcohol level at .239 — nearly three times Florida’s .08 legal limit, according to the arrest report.
Castro was hospitalized with serious injuries and faces DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, DUI causing serious bodily injury, reckless driving causing serious bodily injury and additional charges.
A judge ordered Castro held without bond Monday.
The arrest report also states Castro, a Guatemalan national, has a final order of removal stemming from a denied asylum case. He is expected to be transferred to the Palm Beach County Jail after his release from the hospital.
