Texas Woman Faces DUI Manslaughter Charges in 2013 Miramar Crash

MIRAMAR, Fla. (Day.News) — Alejandra Garcia, a Texas resident, made her first court appearance Monday in Broward County on DUI manslaughter charges tied to a 2013 fatal crash on Miramar Parkway near University Drive. According to a Broward Sheriff's Office arrest report, Garcia, then 27, was speeding with a blood alcohol content of 0.15% — nearly twice Florida's 0.08% limit — when her vehicle collided head-on with another, killing passenger Robert Johnson, 42, of Pembroke Pines. Garcia fled the scene and evaded authorities for 13 years until U.S. Customs and Border Protection identified her at Miami International Airport on May 3, leading to her arrest. The case resurfaced amid heightened public safety alerts in South Florida, where Wynwood residents commuting via I-95 or the Palmetto Expressway pass through Broward daily. Broward Sheriff's Office spokesperson Carey Russell confirmed in a May 5 press release that Garcia posted $25,000 bond and is due back in court June 10. No injuries were reported to deputies in this incident, contrary to initial reports; the victim was a civilian passenger. This arrest coincides with Florida's broader crackdown on impaired driving and public safety threats. Martin County Sheriff's Office announced six arrests in a three-day sex trafficking sting, per their May 11 operation summary, while 22 youths faced charges in Tampa's 'Teen Takeover' chaos, according to Tampa Police Department logs. Wynwood's proximity to these hotspots underscores risks for locals navigating NW 2nd Avenue traffic or events at Mana Wynwood. Air quality concerns from the 11,000-acre Everglades wildfire near Allapattah Wildlife Management Area are impacting the region, with Florida Forest Service reporting moderate AQI levels of 80-100 in Miami-Dade as of 11 a.m. Tuesday. Residents should limit outdoor activity along NW 36th Street and check AirNow.gov for real-time updates. Gov. Ron DeSantis' new foreign influence law, signed May 11 and effective July 1, bans officials from foreign gifts, per the Governor's Office press release, aiming to bolster state resilience amid these challenges. Local drivers benefit from statewide gas prices at $4.40 per gallon, down 10 cents, per AAA Florida data, offering some relief amid tariff-driven cost pressures from the Trump Administration's 15% import tariffs announced this week.