Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Christian Thomas Rafter, 20, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, followed by 42 months of drug offender probation, after entering a plea of nolo contendere to driving under the influence with serious bodily injury.

Rafter was arrested in December 2023 following a Florida Highway Patrol investigation into a crash on Millhopper Road on June 6, 2023; the crash resulted in traumatic brain injury to the driver of the other car, who was reportedly in a coma for weeks. A Florida Highway Patrol investigation found that Rafter was driving a Mustang recklessly before the crash, crossing over a double yellow line to pass other vehicles and traveling over 100 mph. Witnesses reportedly said that Rafter passed over a double yellow line before crashing into the victim’s vehicle.

A witness who lived nearby reportedly told the trooper that he ran out of his home when he heard the crash and saw a passenger get out of Rafter’s Mustang with a box of beer and hide the beer behind a tree. Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies reportedly found a box of Twisted Teas on the ground, and a search of Rafter’s vehicle reportedly produced a glass pipe with marijuana residue, a grinder with marijuana residue, and rolling papers.

A deputy who interviewed Rafter in the ambulance and medical staff at Shands reportedly said Rafter appeared to be intoxicated. Rafter’s passenger reportedly said they had been drinking alcohol the night before and that morning and that they had both smoked marijuana while drinking alcohol before the crash.

A data recorder from Rafter’s car reportedly showed that he was traveling 102 mph in a 40 mph zone at the time of the crash. The blood tests reportedly showed that Rafter’s blood alcohol level was 0.068 g/210L, and the tests also found three marijuana-related compounds in his system.

FHP recommended charges of DUI with serious bodily injury, DUI with property damage, possession of alcohol under the age of 21, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Assistant State Attorney Darla Whistler filed an official charge of DUI with serious bodily injury on November 14, with a recommended bail of $50,000. Judge James Colaw issued a warrant on November 20, with bail set at $100,000.

Rafter was arrested on December 8 and subsequently released on bail, but Judge Colaw ordered him back into custody and held without bond following a change of plea hearing on February 15. On February 29, Rafter entered a plea of nolo contendere to the charge of DUI with serious bodily injury, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

The plea deal specifies that Rafter will be sentenced to 18 months in state prison, followed by 42 months of drug offender probation with no opportunity for early termination. He must pay $500 in fines and court costs, have no contact with the victim, possess no alcohol or illegal drugs, submit to random drug and alcohol screenings, attend DUI school, obtain a substance abuse evaluation and follow any recommended treatment, perform 50 hours of community service including a five-hour victim impact panel, and pay $100 in court costs. His vehicle will be impounded for 10 days, his driver’s license will be suspended for three years, and a hearing is scheduled to determined restitution to the paid to the victim.

The victim continues to suffer from his injuries, including being unable to return to work, and one of his doctors is helping him apply to get a service dog to help with severe anxiety and symptoms of PTSD, along with personality changes. He has reportedly accumulated significant medical debt, and his family asked Alachua Chronicle to publish a link to his GoFundMe.

GoFundMe: Bradly’s recovery after being hit by a drunk driver.