Man Gets 25 Years in DUI Manslaughter Case

Pompano Beach man sentenced in crash that killed man in Hollywood

A Pompano Beach man charged with DUI manslaughter in a crash that killed another driver was sentenced to 25 years behind bars Thursday.

Jason Marshall, 32, was sentenced after pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter and DUI property damage in the Feb. 20 crash that killed 23-year-old Derek Arango in Hollywood.

Several of Arango's family members, including his father and sister, attended Thursday's sentencing wearing T-shirts with his photo and addressed Judge Carlos Rebollo before he handed the sentence down.

"Derek was a heartwarming, loving kind, selfless person, who would have given the earth to someone to make them happy," sister Nicole Torres said.

Torres said her brother was going back to college to become a nurse when the crash happened.

Police say Marshall had a blood alcohol level of .16, double the state's legal limit, when he rear ended Arango's car which was stopped at a red light at North 72nd Avenue and Sheridan Street.

Arango, who was on his way to pick up his sister from work, was rushed to Memorial Regional Hospital, where he later died.

Marshall's driver's license was revoked at the time of the crash and he was designated a habitual traffic offender by the state, police said.

Prosecutors said Marshall had a prior DUI as well as arrests for robbery and kidnapping.

"I apologize for everything I've done, I apologize for your loss that I can never replace, no one can replace, I am regretful for taking the life of your dearly beloved," Marshall told the Arango family. "I do feel a lot of regret for what my actions caused and hopefully one day I hope you can forgive me."

After the hearing, Arango's father, Jaime, said he couldn't accept the apology.

"Drunk driving has become a epidemic, all our young, brightest people are being killed by people like Mr. Marshall," Jaime Arango said. "I hate that man, I hate him, I will never forgive him."

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