A twice-deported man was again in the country illegally when he was charged with DUI manslaughter, and investigators suspect his mysterious death two days later was due to internal injuries suffered in the crash, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office says.
The wreck happened just before 11 p.m. Saturday, April 22, near Haines City, about 38 miles southwest of Orlando, officials said in a news release.
A 23-year-old driver from Davenport was killed in the crash, and detectives say 43-year-old Doroteo Martinez-Castro of Mexico drove on the wrong side of the road and “head on” into the victim.
“Multiple cans of Modelo beer were found in Martinez-Castro’s vehicle. He also admitted to a detective that he drank multiple beers and Crown Royal whiskey a short time before the crash,” the sheriff’s office said.
“He was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for an ankle injury. ... Upon his release from the hospital during the early morning hours of Sunday, April 23rd, he was booked in to the Polk County Jail and then transferred to the medical dorm for his ankle injury.”
Martinez-Castro died while in custody the next day, after being rushed to AdventHealth Sebring Hospital, officials said.
”According to the investigation so far, Martinez-Castro was being monitored by deputies and medical staff throughout Monday morning, April 24th. Deputies checked on him every 14-15 minutes,” the sheriff’s office said.
“When his food tray was delivered at 10:40 a.m., a deputy noticed he...
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