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Driver in deadly Thanksgiving crash out on bond the next day

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Demiko White, 23, who was arrested on Thanksgiving Day after allegedly causing a crash on I-75 that killed a 13-year-old girl and 83-year-old woman from High Springs, was released on $15,000 bond the next day.

The crash happened at around 10:40 a.m. on November 25, when a sedan driven by White tried to change lanes into the right lane and struck the left side of a semi truck. At the time, an SUV was traveling south in the left lane, and when the sedan struck the semi truck, it swerved toward the left lane and struck the right rear of the SUV, which caused the SUV to swerve onto the shoulder and overturn several times, resulting in the fatalities.

During the investigation of the crash, officers learned that White had an outstanding warrant out of Orange County, so they searched his vehicle and found a handgun in the glove box. As a convicted felon, White is not allowed to possess firearms or ammunition, so he was arrested on a gun possession charge.

According to court records posted today, White was released on $15,000 bond on November 26, with the condition that he possess no firearms. A public defender was appointed. The First Appearance Order scores him as a low flight risk and states that he is not employed. According to that document, White has 3 felony adjudications, with the most recent in 2020, two of which were for drugs (the other was for battery – more about his criminal and traffic history can be found here). He has 3 misdemeanor adjudications, all for drugs, with the most recent in 2018. He has 8 traffic violations, with the most recent in 2021, and two Failures to Appear, with the most recent in 2019. He has a misdemeanor battery charge pending in Leon County and is currently on probation in Orange County for knowingly driving without a valid license. The document does not mention the November 21 sentence of 24 months probation that he was given for violating his Pinellas County probation on a felony battery charge. White also has a juvenile history going back to 2012.

Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the fatal accident and will bring charges if it is determined that they are warranted.

  • So arrested in Alachua County. And he stated he would be out during arrest…not to paraphrase exactly.

    Therefore, either the arresting department did not do their fiduciary work or the DA did not do theirs.

  • The bond rate for his possession of an illegal weapon was too low. He correctly sees these bonds as just a cost of doing business.

  • Where’s Lil’ Yummy when you need him? Forgot, he already met his demise.

    If there’s any justice in the world…

  • How is this even possible? Two people are dead! He was driving recklessly! He never should have been behind the wheel! He never should have been out of his county! While my friends are mourning the deaths of their beautiful mother and granddaughter he’s home. Justice is indeed blind. I guess it didn’t get the national attention to get the outrage of the nation.

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