VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – The driver accused in a 2022 wrong-way crash that killed three people, including a social media influencer, Friday morning pleaded no contest to multiple charges.
Thomas Petry, who was driving the wrong-way vehicle and allegedly walked away from the scene of the fatal crash on State Road 44 by the time first responders arrived, pleaded no contest to charges of reckless driving involving serious bodily injury, leaving the scene of a crash with death, vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury.
Troopers said a Toyota Tacoma, driven by Petry, was heading west on State Road 44 in the eastbound inside lane around 2:20 a.m. Dec. 11, 2022, when it crashed into the right front of an Infiniti Q50.
The crash caused the Tacoma to rotate clockwise while the Infiniti traveled into the center median, according to the FHP. The Tacoma came to rest in the eastbound lanes, facing east. Troopers said a third vehicle – a Toyota Prius – then crashed into the Tacoma.
A fourth vehicle – a Lexus ES – was traveling behind the Prius, according to the FHP. Its driver observed the second collision and was able to avoid both vehicles, but traveled through the debris, troopers said.
Petry was one of two drivers arrested in the wreck. Devin Perkins was behind the wheel of the Infiniti, which TikTok influencer Alexandra Dulin, a 22-year-old New Smyrna Beach man and a 25-year-old Daytona Beach man were also inside of. The three passengers were killed in the wreck.
A sentencing date for Petry has not yet been set.
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