MIAMI — A man who troopers say was behind the wheel in a wrong-way crash that killed five young adults on the Palmetto Expressway has been arrested, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Maiky Simeon, who lives in a Miami-Dade County, is facing five counts of vehicular homicide, his arrest report shows. He was placed under arrest on Sunday although he remains in the hospital.
“Troopers are awaiting the results of a toxicology report to determine if impairment was a contributing factor,” said FHP spokesman Lt. Alex Camacho. “If it is determined that Mr. Simeon was impaired at the time of the crash, additional charges will be filed.”
The 30-year-old continues to receive medical care at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami while being monitored by law enforcement officials after he was injured in the crash, Camacho said. He will be booked into jail once discharged from the hospital.
Investigators say Simeon crashed into another car while driving the wrong way on State Road 826 early Saturday morning, injuring himself and killing four women and one man in another car. Court records show he has a troubled driving record.
Troopers haven’t released the name of the victims who are between 18 and 25, but family members and friends have identified them as Valeria Cáceres, Valeria Peña, Daniella Marcano, Briana Pacalagua and Giancarlo Arias.
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