FLPD Arrests Woman For Deadly Parking Lot Crash In June
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – Just as she was close to getting out of jail, a Ft. Lauderdale woman's bond was raised significantly.
Alyza Rachel Russell, 22, was arrested Wednesday for the crash on June 13 that killed two homeless men. The toxicology report from the night of the accident found Russell blood alcohol level to be 0.17, or more than two times the legal limit.
Her bond was set at $65,000. But when she faced a judge Wednesday afternoon, the bond was raised to $450,000.
Russell who had been composed put her head in her hands and started crying hearing the news.
Judge John Hurley decided to raise the bond after prosecutors claimed Russell was a flight risk because she held dual citizenship and had recently sent money to re-new one of her passports. And it was revealed that Russell allegedly told a co-worker soon after the accident that she was planning to flee to Ireland to escape prosecution.
Russell's attorney Robert Reiff denied that and said the family had planned an overseas vacation before the fatal accident.
FLPD said around 2 a.m. on June 13, Russell was driving west on Broward Boulevard when she attempted to make a left turn onto SW 5th Avenue and head south. Russell couldn't finish the turn and drove her Porsche Panamera through the hedge of a parking lot.
Mackendy Jules, 30, and Samuel Artez Martindale, 35, were sitting with a third person in the parking lot when the Porsche crashed through the area. Both Jules and Martindale were hit and killed while the third person managed to escape.
Neither Russell nor her two passengers were hurt during the crash.
Ft. Lauderdale Police said Russell faces two charges of DUI manslaughter, two counts of unlawful blood alcohol level manslaughter, one count of DUI property damage, and one count of unlawful blood alcohol level property damage.
