Joshua Roelofs, a 33-year-old former Polk County Sheriff’s deputy, is being investigated following his connection to an accident killing two people.
An officer that responded to the crash stated that Roelofs had slurred speech and the smell of alcohol on his breath at the scene. He refused to take a field sobriety test, but it later was revealed that he had a blood-alcohol level of .069 after the crash.
Authorities stated that the former deputy was traveling at 100 mph before his Nissan collided with the back of a Kia Sorento carrying four passengers. The Kia flipped multiple times and the four passengers were ejected.
Two 44-year-old men were pronounced dead at the scene and. A 36-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman were rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
Roelofs was not injured in the accident and stayed at the scene. Dash camera footage on his Nissan showed him weaving in and out of his lane before rear-ending the Kia.
He was booked into the Hillsborough County jail and was later released on $19,000 bail. He is facing two felony counts of DUI manslaughter and two counts of DUI causing serious bodily injury.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Joshua Roelofs was a deputy with them for five years. He was arrested and fired after he was caught filing inaccurate time cards to get extra pay in 2015.
Drunk driving statistics in Florida
In 2019, there were 814 total alcohol-related fatalities and 26% of total fatalities in the state involved alcohol. 21.6% of those fatalities were under the age of 21.
What to do if you have been injured in a car accident
Accidents can cause high medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and even death. It is critical to receive medical treatment and seek out an attorney if you are injured in an accident. The Accident Injury Legal Center can help you get in contact with an attorney that is qualified for your case. They can help you receive the compensation you deserve.
Call the Accident Injury Legal Center at 1-866-255-4870.
Resources
Gehrt, A., & Fiallo, J. (2022, May 10). Former deputy faces DUI manslaughter charges in Courtney Campbell Causeway crash. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from https://www.tampabay.com/news/crime/2022/05/09/man-faces-dui-manslaughter-charges-in-fatal-courtney-campbell-causeway-crash/
National Drunk Driving Statistics Map. (2019). Responsibility.org. https://www.responsibility.org/alcohol-statistics/state-map/state/florida/