phillips, hunt & walker COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic Legal Advice: Civil Liability for Spreading or Infecting Others
Facts:
On November 23, 2018, Tanner Dashner, 21, of Fort Pierce, was driving a GMC Yukon south on South 25th Street approaching Midway Road when he struck the rear of a Dodge Dakota traveling in the same direction at a high rate of speed. The impact caused the Dakota to erupt in flames. Five people, 21-year-old Anthony Victor, 16-year-old Anthony M. Martin, 21-year-old Darien L. Douglas, 17-year-old Alexis Chaney and the driver of the Dakota, 27-year-old Kedan D. Tillett, died as a result of some combination of extreme trauma, explosion, fire and/or smoke inhalation. Additionally, passenger Ari’yonnia Stanberry, a 14-year-old, was injured.Briefly prior to the crash, a person believed to be Tanner Dashner posted on social media that he was “Sloshed.” Sloshed is an analogy for being drunk or intoxicated. The person appears intoxicated in the photo. Witnesses claim he was speeding and also claim he ran a red light. Intoxication is an entirely separate issue from the grossly reckless operating of his vehicle in a construction area. Each carry felony charges.
Mr. Dashner has seemingly exhibited behavior of a proud and notorious drunk, posting braggadocios messages such that he identified with being “married to beer,” loved being drunk and promoted one post which said, “Listen, drunk me & sober me are not the same person. So, if drunk me said or did somethin(g), you gotta take it up with drunk me. Don’t come at sober me (because) we weren’t there. We don’t know what Happened between yall.” What is believed to be his Twitter handle is hashtagged, “#partyhardtillidie.” Well, he didn’t die. He killed 5 children and young adults.His blood-alcohol levelwas more than three times the legal limit of 0.08, according to his arrest affidavit. He has now been charged withfive counts each of vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter. He is in the St. Lucie County Jail with bail set at approximately $7.5 million.
Press Conference by Victim’s Lawyer:
The family of Alexis Chaney, 17, gathered in front of the St. Lucie County State Attorney’s Office Wednesday, December 12, 2018, to demand the immediate arrest of the driver who the Florida Highway Patrol said slammed into a vehicle Nov. 23, killing Chaney and four other people.
After our press conference, the accident report was made available. Tanner Dashner had an estimated speed of 97 miles per hour in a 30 mile per hour limited zone. And he was intoxicated by report. It had been 19 days as of that press conference since he killed 5 people- with no arrest. We asked, “Arrest him immediately.”
Tanner Dashner Case Links / Posts / Blog:
- Traffic Crash Report (Report)(from November 23, 2018)
- Press Conference By Florida Highway Patrol (Video)(December 3, 2018)
- Press Conference By Victim’s Lawyer Demanding Arrest (Video)(December 12, 2018)
- Dashner’s First Court Appearance (Video) (December 18, 2018)
- Charging Affidavit Released in Tanner Dashner Case (Report)(December 18, 2018)
- Dashner GrantedIndigent Status for Legal Costs; Attorney Charging $100,000 for Fees (January 25, 2019)
- Tanner Dashner Gag Order SoughtAgainst Victim’s Lawyer- DENIED (Video)(February 20, 2019)
- Evidence Locker
We invite you to review our verdicts, our accolades and awards and what clients have to sayabout us and give us a call for a free consultation where our lawyers will consult with you personally. John represents clients in Florida, Georgia and Alabama and before the U.S. Supreme Court with passion and compassion. Our firm handles a wide variety of injury and death cases, criminal defense, family law and a host of high profile matters. We can be emailed at help@floridajustice.com or call us at (904) 444-4444 in Florida or (912) 444-4444 in Georgia. Our Treasure Coast area number is (772) 444-4444.