Pictured: Joel Leiniz (Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office). Setting: Military Trail in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Google Maps).
Authorities report that Joel Leiniz, aged 38, was behind the wheel when the accident occurred. The family was heading to a local taco restaurant with his three children in tow, coming from a church concert on the night of January 17. Allegations from police indicate that Leiniz was navigating Military Trail in West Palm Beach at dangerously high speeds, while under the influence. Driving an Audi Q7 SUV, Leiniz purportedly swerved to dodge another car but instead struck a concrete pole situated on the roadway’s edge.
In the back seat during the crash was his 8-year-old daughter, Zoe, along with her siblings. Sadly, Zoe succumbed to her injuries after being rushed to the hospital.
His 8-year-old daughter, Zoe, was one of three children in the back seat of the SUV. She died of her injuries at the hospital.
After the crash, police said one of the three children had not been wearing a seat belt. Leiniz told police at the hospital that he “did not think he was speeding because he had kids in the car.” A witness who was working security at a nightclub near the crash location corroborated Leiniz’s account that he was trying to avoid hitting another vehicle. Surveillance video also captured Leiniz’s SUV swerving to avoid another vehicle.
Further investigation of the SUV’s event data recorder determined that Leiniz was driving at 104 mph in a 40 mph zone before the crash that killed his daughter. He appeared to hit the brakes two seconds before the crash.
Police said that blood tests and medical records showed that Leiniz had a blood-alcohol content of 0.097 at the time of the crash, making him impaired.
Local NBC affiliate WPTV reported that Leiniz served as a youth pastor and ministry director at New Covenant Church. Leiniz reportedly lost his wife to cancer about a year before the crash, and the family was living off Social Security benefits and donations.
Leiniz was charged with vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter. He was arrested on Sunday and is being held at the Main Detention Center of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office on $75,000 bond. His next court date is scheduled for Aug. 18.