Two pedestrians were struck and killed on State Road 528 early Monday in Brevard County, leading to a DUI arrest, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The double fatal crash was reported at 1:15 a.m. on S.R. 528 near State Road 3.
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The FHP said Jonathan Barrett, 39, of Merritt Island was driving a 2003 Ford Taurus belonging to his mother east on S.R. 528 when he struck a man and woman who were either walking or standing on the south shoulder of the highway.
Lt. Channing Taylor said the car’s entire windshield was caved in.
“He had to have known he hit somebody,” Taylor said.
Troopers said Barret, who suffered minor injuries, drove home and called authorities, saying his cellphone was dead and he did not have a charger in his car at the time of the crash.
Investigators said the man admitted to taking a 15 mg dose of Oxycontin prior to the crash. He told troopers the drug is prescribed to him by a doctor, records show. The man was already on pretrial release for possession of heroin and possession of a controlled substance, according to an FHP report.
“He was trying to be forthcoming with the medications he was taking but his story kept changing a little bit,” Taylor said. “That’s another indicator of not being able to focus and pay attention, which drug usage will do.”
Barrett was unable to stand still or completely follow directions during a field sobriety test, troopers said. Records show a breath test found no alcohol in his system.
He was arrested on charges of driving under the influence, DUI manslaughter and leaving the scene of a crash with death.
“There’s a possibility that if he stopped immediately and rendered aid that those people could be alive,” Taylor said.
The victims, both of Cape Canaveral, were pronounced dead at the scene, according to an FHP report. The names of the victims have not been released.