Fugitive Involved in Fatal Florida DUI Crash Finally Arrested in Mexico
Family members of a couple killed by a drunk driver in Central Florida over a decade ago may finally be able to seek some justice and perhaps a little bit of closure as authorities in Mexico apprehended the primary suspect and extradited him back to the United States to face a flurry of felonious charges for his alleged involvement in their deaths.
According to collision records filed by the Florida Highway Patrol officers operating near the city of Avon Park on June 30th 2007, Frostproof resident Brian Dale Andrews, who was 29 at the time, was charged for his connection in a deadly DUI accident along U.S. Highway 17 in Polk County which claimed the lives of Danny and Patricia McCowan. At the time of the accident, troopers administered routine roadside field sobriety checks to Andrews and he promptly failed the breathalyzer test after it registered 0.315 – nearly four times the legal limit to operate a motor vehicle in Florida.
Although the exact details surrounding the suspect’s decision to flee the state and subsequent disappearance for the next fourteen years have yet to be ironed out, detectives with the Florida Highway Patrol never gave up on the investigation. Thankfully, their persistent police work prevailed when Trooper Chris Wells received a tip that Andrews was hiding out somewhere close to Mexico City. After that, Wells was able to successfully coordinate with federal officials from the United States Marshals Service who arrested Andrews on Monday and flew him back to Florida the following Wednesday.
Brian Dale Andrews now faces a series of life-altering felony charges, including two counts of DUI manslaughter, two counts of driving with a suspended license involving a death, and one count of DUI property damage. It is unclear at the time if the suspect has retained legal representation for his case.
Since 1977, Florida personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham has been compassionately and diligently representing the victims and families of individuals who have been severely injured or killed in car accidents, including hit-and-run collisions, SUV rollovers, rear-end collisions, and drunk driver accidents. If you would like to schedule a free 30-minute case evaluation, please contact us today at 877-FL-INJURY to schedule an appointment with one of our qualified legal professionals.
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.