Coconut Creek Police announced Friday that they have arrested Patricio Arias Verdial, 19, on multiple charges related to an accident that killed 19-year-old Joe Ianzano in August.
Ianzano tried to stop Verdial from getting behind the wheel of his car on August 16, his family said. Ianzano was clinging to rear spoiler of his friend’s high-performance car when it careened through the bushes and slammed into a palm tree, throwing Ianzano to his death.
After the car hit the tree, it drove across another driveway and hit another three cars before it came to a stop. Ianzano was pronounced dead at the scene. He died just before he was about to start school to become a firefighter.
Police said Verdial was arrested on charges of DUI manslaughter, driving while intoxicated (1st offense), DUI property damage, possession of under 20 grams of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Verdial was arrested without incident and is currently in a Broward jail. It’s unknown if he has an attorney.
