Arrest made in June 5 DUI vehicular homicide

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Declan Warfield Lott-Kelley, 23, was arrested today in the June 5 vehicular homicide at 1400 NW 39th Avenue.

The initial report stated that a Toyota sedan was exiting out of the north-side parking lot of Publix, making a right turn on NW 39th Avenue. At the same time, a Jeep was traveling east from the 1900 block of NW 39th Avenue, reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed. The Jeep then collided with the Toyota.

The occupants of the Toyota, both female, were extricated from their vehicle with the Jaws of Life by Gainesville Fire Rescue. The passenger was pronounced dead on the scene. The driver was taken to the hospital in critical condition and remained in the ICU for three weeks.

The driver of the Jeep, whose vehicle hit a wall on the north side of NW 39th Avenue after the collision, was also transported to UF Shands with a head injury.

Lott-Kelley has now been arrested and charged with vehicular homicide, driving under the influence, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, and DUI manslaughter. Lott-Kelley’s license was suspended on February 1, 2021, and, according to the sworn complaint, should have known his license was suspended. While he was in the hospital following the crash, his blood tests showed a blood alcohol level of 2.42g/100mL, which is above the legal limit of 0.8g/100mL.

Information obtained from the vehicle computer in Lott-Kelley’s car showed that the vehicle was traveling at 88 mph at impact.