Today (Aug 20), a Brevard County Jury found Latrenerra STRIDIRON (29) guilty of two (2) counts of DUI with Serious Bodily Injury (F3), and one (1) count of DUI with Damage or Injury (M1), after a week long trial in connection with a 2019 near fatal vehicle crash in Indialantic.

 

Just before 1:30 am on August 29, 2019, Florida Highway Patrol Troopers responded to a vehicle crash on Highway A1A at Ocean Oaks Drive where they found a 2016 Buick SUV driven by STRIDIRON, had crashed into the rear of a 2011 Kia while traveling at 106 mph. The Kia was occupied by Scott Smith (24), and driven by Eden Tall (27), when the violent impact drove their vehicle 75 feet off the road into a ditch, spun through a fence, and sideways into a light pole. Tall suffered near fatal, physically devastating injuries, that even after two years of treatment, have left her confined to a home hospital bed, completely dependent upon her mother and family for daily care. Smith was also seriously injured along with Marteisha Samuel, a passenger in STRIDIRON's vehicle, who suffered a broken leg and fracture above her eye.

 

STRIDIRON was not significantly injured and passed out after being examined at the hospital. She refused to cooperate with the investigation and blood drawn approximately 3 1/2 hours after the crash, showed an alcohol level of .184, well above the legal limit of .08. STRIDIRON was arrested and transported to the Brevard County Jail, where she was later released on bond.

 

After hearing the case prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Michael Garcia and Christine Babb, the jury deliberated for 3 hours before returning with the guilty verdicts. Judge Charles Crawford ordered STRIDIRON to surrender to the BCSO jail within 7 days (Aug 26), and scheduled sentencing for October 6, 2021, at 1:15 pm. Each of the two felony convictions carries a maximum sentence of five (5) years in prison, and one (1) year for the misdemeanor.