Police: Driver in fatal crash had alcohol level 3 times over legal limit

91-year-old man killed in Brevard County wreck

MELBOURNE, Fla. – A Palm Bay man accused of driving drunk and killing another person in a crash Sunday had a blood-alcohol content nearly four times the legal limit, police officials said.

Charges against Noe Mejia-Chacon, 22, come after a trio of crashes in West Melbourne and Palm Bay on Sunday, including one wreck that killed a 91-year-old man. Mejia-Chacon faces charges, including manslaughter, driving under the influence, driving without a license and hit-and-run.

Brevard County jail officials said he is being held on $20,500 bond.

Sgt. Kim Montes, a spokeswoman for Florida Highway Patrol, said Mejia-Chacon had a blood alcohol content of 0.223 percent according to a test of his breath after the crashes. The legal limit is 0.08 percent.

The fatal crash occurred at 11:33 a.m. Sunday on Eber Boulevard at Coventry Circle in West Melbourne. Florida Highway Patrol investigators said Mejia-Chacon was driving a 2000 Dodge SUV and was trying to pass another vehicle when the Dodge hit an oncoming 1994 Plymouth car.

Police said a passenger in the Plymouth, Joseph Williams, of West Melbourne, died after the crash at Holmes Regional Medical Center. The driver of the car, identified as Wayne Williams, 60, of West Melbourne, was hospitalized with minor injuries.

Officials said Mejia-Chacon was involved in two other crashes before the fatal wreck.

A Landmark at Ocean Breeze Apartments resident called police and reported that a driver had struck multiple vehicles in the parking lot, Melbourne police Lt. Byron Barnes said.

The driver pulled out of the parking lot onto Palm Bay Road, turned west and collided with a vehicle at the nearby Dairy Road intersection, Barnes said. Then the motorist drove north on Dairy Road, turned west onto Eber Boulevard and got into the fatal head-on wreck.


Recommended Videos