Authorities have arrested a woman who they say was speeding and driving under the influence when she caused a fiery 2016 crash in Coral Springs that killed a Fort Lauderdale police detective.
Joselyn Lopez, 30, was arrested Thursday on charges including DUI manslaughter, DUI causing serious bodily injury, reckless driving, and DUI with damage to property in the Aug. 20, 2016 crash that killed Det. Christopher Sheehan, according to a Coral Springs Police arrest report.
The report said Lopez was behind the wheel of a Dodge Challenger driving 75 mph in a 45 mph zone when she rear-ended a Jeep Wrangler on N. State Road 7 near Wiles Road around 2:30 a.m.
The Jeep and Challenger caught on fire. Sheehan, who was driving, was pronounced dead on the scene while his passenger was taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries.
Lopez, who wasn't injured, appeared impaired, had an odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from her breath, and slurred speech, the report said.
When blood samples were taken later that morning, Lopez had blood alcohol levels of .08 and .06. The legal limit in Florida is .08.
"The Dodge Challenger was driven in a reckless manner causing death and serious bodily injury," the report noted. "At the time of the crash, Joselyn Lopez was impaired beyond normal faculties, which contributed to the crash and subsequent results."
Lopez, of Margate, was being held without bond Friday, jail records showed. Attorney information wasn't available.
Local
Sheehan, the son of a former Fire Rescue division chief in the city, served as a detective and a SWAT team operator during his time with the police department. He leaves behind his parents, brother and a fiancee who he was scheduled to wed last October.
