Police Say Third Person Dead After Crash Possibly Involving Alcohol Or Drugs.
BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The crash on Military Trail near Miner Road earlier this week has now claimed a third life. BocaNewsNow.com reported earlier this week that Dawn Michele Howard of Capital Drive in Lake Worth was allegedly under the influence of something when police say she caused a crash that left two people dead. A third person, identified as Alejandro G. Rodriguez of West Palm Beach died on Friday. He was originally listed as “driver #2.”
Here is our original reporting. We note that traffic homicide investigations often take a year. No charges have been filed. The investigation continues.
ORIGINAL REPORT FROM THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2024:
Two people were killed in a multi-car crash on South Military Trail in the area of Miner Road in Lake Worth Beach around 7:20 Wednesday night. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, in a statement provided to BocaNewsNow.com, says drugs or alcohol may have been a factor. The law enforcement agency, we note, says the intersection is in unincorporated Delray Beach, but records show the address is actually just north of Boynton Beach in southern Lake Worth Beach.
According to PBSO, Dawn Michele Howard of Capital Drive in Lake Worth was traveling northbound out South Military Trail at a high rate of speed in a Lexus RX350, approaching the intersection of Miner Road. At the same time, Alejandro Rodriguez was driving a 2010 Volkswagen, also northbound on Military Trail. As the Lexus neared the intersection of Miner Road, the traffic signal cycled to yellow and Dawn Howard accelerated to drive through the intersection before the signal cycled to red.
“As Howard continued northbound in the outside lane,” said police, “she entered a sweeping left hand curve, while traveling at a high rate of speed, closed with the Volkswagen which was also traveling in the outside lane, and violently collided with it. During the collision, the front of the Lexus violently impacted the rear of the Volkswagen.”
The vehicles then spun in various directions. The Lexus rolled over. The Volkswagen came to rest on the edge of the roadway.
Dawn Michele Howard sustained minor injuries but is believed to have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Two passengers in the Volkswagen were killed. One is identified as Grechy Almaguer-Perez, age 43. The second victim was not identified. Two other people in the Volkswagen were seriously injured. Traffic homicide investigations often take up to a year in the State of Florida. Dawn Howard is not charged as of July 11th, 2024.
