The deadly collision happened at approximately 3:00 a.m. on January 1, 2025, on Southbound I-95.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida – The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) on Thursday, January 16 arrested the person who caused a traffic collision that killed a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Road Ranger and injured two FHP Troopers as they worked at a crash scene on Interstate 95 in Broward County on New Years Day.
The deadly collision happened at approximately 3:00 a.m. on January 1, 2025, on Southbound I-95.
Reportedly, Florida Highway Patrol Troopers and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Road Ranger Jose Parra Guadama attending to another collision on I-95 Southbound in marked vehicles with their emergency lights fully activated.
Authorities say as the crews worked on the initial crash, two other southbound vehicles – a Honda Accord and a BMW X6 – collided. The BMW was traveling behind the Honda and going faster than it.
The impact caused the BMW to travel into the express lane where it hit the concrete wall before striking the Road Ranger’s Ford F-250 pickup from behind. This caused a chain reaction as the pickup truck struck one of the FHP’s cars which in turn crashed into another FHP vehicle and the Road Ranger Jose Guadama.
Road Ranger Jose Guadama was killed in the incident.
Authorities said two FHP troopers and the two drivers sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
On Thursday, January 16, troopers arrested the suspect identified as 44-year-old Latoya Hayes of Fort Lauderdale.
Police said Hayes had a blood alcohol concentration of .168 at the time of the collision, which is more than twice the legal limit.
Hayes is charged with several counts including, DUI Manslaughter (UBAL), DUI Manslaughter (Impairment), Vehicular Homicide, three counts of DUI causing injury, five counts of DUI Causing Property Damage, three counts of Reckless Driving Causing Injury, five counts of Reckless Driving Causing Property Damage, and Expired Driver’s License Over six months.
Authorities said Hayes was booked into Broward County Jail without bond.