Williston woman arrested for death of motorcyclist in August 2023 crash on I-75
Staff report
Updated on August 17 with pre-trial detention information.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Tiffany Katara Sams, 45, of Williston, has been charged with vehicular homicide after a blood draw showed that she was intoxicated when she hit a motorcyclist on I-75 in August 2023.
At about 12:22 a.m. on August 29, 2023, Sams was driving a sedan northbound on I-75 near the 387 mile marker when she hit a motorcyclist from St. Cloud who was traveling ahead of her in the same lane. The motorcyclist was ejected onto the roadway, and the motorcycle was trapped under the sedan, which continued forward for about 1500 feet. The motorcyclist was killed.
A Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) investigation found that there were no brake or tire marks indicating that Sams slowed before hitting the motorcycle. In a post-Miranda interview, Sams reportedly said she saw the motorcycle at the last second because it had no headlights or taillights, but FHP reported that the taillight and headlight were working, “with hot shock present,” at the time of the crash.
A blood draw taken from Sams at the scene returned a positive result for alcohol: 0.224 g/100mL.
A sworn complaint for vehicular homicide while intoxicated was filed in January 2026, and a warrant was issued on July 28; Sams was arrested on August 12. Sams’ address was listed as Gainesville in 2023, but she told Court Services that she has lived in Williston for the past year. She has two felony convictions (non-violent) and six misdemeanor convictions (two violent); Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered her held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold her without bail until trial. On August 17, Judge Robert Groeb granted the motion and ordered her held without bail until trial.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Three years to get blood draw results? The wheels of justice sure take their time around here.
Let’s just be glad that she was finally arrested, and the family of the victim will hopefully see justice served.
It took a long time but i am glad she is being held accountable for her actions. Drinking and driving is never a good choice.
Did it really take that long to get the results after the draw? It’s not clear.
Another example of cycling in and out of the system but no real consequences until someone has died. It always takes someone dying, which is so sad.
This is her SECOND MVA with resultant death in the past 5 years. She was at fault in the other case as well. She needs to be off the roads for good.