Driver charged in Broward crash that killed man, split car in half
FORT LAUDERDALE — Police said they have arrested a man in connection to the crash that killed a man and left a car split in half in Cooper City early Saturday morning.
On Sunday, Ivan Billie Jr., 25, was taken into custody. He is facing several charges, including vehicular homicide and driving under the influence resulting in death.
The sheriff's office identified the man who died as Justice Fielder but did not say what his relationship was to Billie.
Around 4:30 a.m. Saturday, BSO deputies were called out to the crash near Sheridan Street and Solano Avenue, where they found the halved car and the two men. While Billie survived and was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the other man died at the scene.
The preliminary investigation revealed that Billie was driving a 2023 Chevrolet Camaro with the man and was driving east in the center thru lane on Sheridan and approaching Solano.
"According to the witness, the defendant was driving 190 miles an hour," Assistant State Attorney Ross Weiner told a judge during a hearing for Billie on Sunday. "The passenger was found dead. He had a blood alcohol of .239."
Investigators said the Chevy then came behind another vehicle in the same lane and Billie tried to swerve around it; however, as he passed the other vehicle, Billie lost control of his car and veered toward the center median and struck a tree.
After striking the first tree in an off-set head-on collision, the Chevy continued sliding across the median and struck a second tree. Detectives said after hitting the second tree, the Camaro continued across the westbound lanes in a northeastern direction, where it struck a concrete utility pole, snapping it at the base and knocking it over. After striking the pole, the Chevy split in half and continued sliding east until it came to a stop in the westbound lanes.
After the crash, investigators said Billie was in the median walking away from the scene, "covered in blood," BSO stated. It wasn't until further investigation that police learned that he was the driver as the car was also found to be registered in his name.
"The first thing he said was that he was a Seminole. The defendant kept changing his story," Weiner told the judge.
Prosecutors say Billie has a history of speeding, four tickets in the last five years.