A tragic incident unfolded in Florida when a man, allegedly under the influence, took the wheel of a Chevrolet Corvette, leading to a high-speed collision that ended in tragedy. The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Dale James Drotar, is facing serious charges including vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter following the untimely death of 25-year-old Natalie Pierre.

The devastating accident occurred on the night of April 6, around 10 p.m., at the intersection of Military Trail and Cedar Point Boulevard in Boynton Beach. According to the arrest affidavit, Drotar was driving the Corvette at an alarming speed of 135 mph in a zone limited to 45 mph. At this critical moment, a Toyota Camry was turning left onto Cedar Point from Military Trail when it was violently struck by Drotar’s vehicle.

The force of the collision was catastrophic. The impact caused both vehicles to spin out of control, subsequently involving two other cars in the accident. The Corvette traveled approximately 470 feet from the point of impact, while the Camry came to rest around 60 feet away, tragically torn nearly in half. Natalie Pierre, a passenger in the Camry, was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Camry sustained serious injuries, while Drotar himself was transported to the hospital for treatment.

Investigators discovered a nearly empty 200-milliliter bottle of Jack Daniels liqueur in the wreckage of Drotar’s vehicle. During an interview with deputies, Drotar reportedly exhibited signs of intoxication, such as the smell of alcohol, slurred speech, and an argumentative demeanor, according to the affidavit. These details paint a concerning picture of the events leading up to the crash, highlighting the potential role of alcohol in this tragic incident.

Deputies found a mostly empty 200 milliliter bottle of “Jack Daniels liqueur” in his car, the affidavit says. In an interview with deputies, Drotar smelled of alcohol and had slurred and raspy speech, per the affidavit. He also was “lethargic and argumentative at times,” cops noted.

A toxicology report revealed Drotar was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of the crash, the affidavit says. His blood alcohol content was 0.126 when he was admitted to the hospital and 0.085 more than 12 hours after the crash, according to the affidavit. Data reportedly showed Drotar accelerated from about 124 mph to 135 mph in the seconds leading up to the crash. He allegedly braked about a half-second before impact.

Drotar was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on Wednesday and is being held on a $540,000 bond. His next court date is scheduled for Nov. 21.

Friends started a GoFundMe account for Pierre’s family after the crash.

“Natalie was more than a friend to so many of us — she was a shining light, a constant source of love, support, and adventure. Her bright spirit, her infectious laughter, and generous heart touched the lives of everyone she met,” the fundraiser said.