Florida Inmate Illegally in the US Dies Following Fatal Drunk-Driving Crash
An inmate in Florida, who was in the United States illegally, died from internal injuries a few days after being involved in a fatal drunk-driving crash. Doroteo Martinez-Castro, a 43-year-old resident of Haines City, was arrested after colliding with a 2009 Toyota Prius on US 17/92 and Lee Jackson Highway North. The crash resulted in the death of a 23-year-old man from the Davenport area. Martinez-Castro, who had been deported twice before, faced charges of DUI manslaughter and causing death while driving with a suspended/revoked license.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd stated that Martinez-Castro died at Advent Health Sebring Hospital on Monday, and his office is investigating the inmate's death. During his initial hospital visit, blood samples were taken, and officials suspect that he was intoxicated when he caused the fatal crash. Martinez-Castro's criminal history includes four prior traffic-related misdemeanor arrests. He did not possess a driver's license, and his learner's permit was suspended in 2019.
Martinez-Castro was placed in the medical dorm of Polk County Jail, where he was monitored by medical staff and deputies. He was checked on every 15 minutes, and when his food tray was delivered on Monday, a deputy noticed he was unresponsive in his wheelchair. CPR was initiated before he was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. According to initial autopsy reports, Martinez-Castro died from internal injuries sustained during the crash.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office will conduct a death investigation and an administrative investigation, while the medical examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. All findings will be forwarded to the State Attorney's Office for investigation and review.