PALM BEACH, Fla. – A 26-year-old man was arrested Tuesday afternoon in connection with a crash that killed three people on Sept. 6, 2015, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
James Geoffrey Dameron had been actively sought by at least two police agencies ever since the deadly wreck, FHP Sgt. Kim Montes said in a news release.
Dameron was taken into custody after fleeing from troopers who attempted to stop his vehicle on the Florida Turnpike in Palm Beach County, the FHP said.
Dameron was with his half-brother at the time, heading south on the turnpike in a white Mercedes SUV. The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office helped the FHP in locating Dameron, Montes said.
Dameron had an active warrant out for his arrest ever since the September crash that killed three people. Another warrant had been issued by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
On Sept. 6, 2015, just after 4 a.m. in Lake County, Dameron rear-ended a 2001 Nissan Maxima from behind the wheel of his SUV, the FHP said. He was traveling south on the turnpike at the time, driving fast, police said.
Both vehicles caught fire. The victims were 23-year-old Thomas Garza, 20-year-old Lillian Luna and 1-year-old Brianna Garza, from Moultrie, Georgia. All three were related to one another.
Dameron has been sought on three counts of vehicular homicide and driving while his license was suspended, in a case involving a death.
When Dameron was arrested Tuesday, he had wrapped copper and tin foil around an ankle monitor on his left leg, Montes said. Drugs were also found in the SUV.
Dameron, along with 24-year-old Joseph Kieran IV, were booked at the Palm Beach County Jail.