A former youth pastor has been charged with vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter after a high-speed crash in Florida killed his eight-year-old daughter.
Joel Leiniz, 38, was driving an Audi Q7 SUV with his three children on Military Trail in West Palm Beach on the night of January 17. Police said he was traveling at 104 mph in a 40 mph zone while impaired with a blood-alcohol content of 0.097.
Leiniz told officers he swerved to avoid another vehicle before hitting a concrete pole. His daughter Zoe died at the hospital from her injuries. One of the children was not wearing a seat belt.
Surveillance video and a witness supported his account of the swerve. Leiniz was arrested on Sunday and is being held on $75,000 bond at the Palm Beach County Main Detention Center. His next court date is scheduled for August 18.