A man responsible for a traffic crash that killed two people back in March 2021 is sentenced to more than a decade in prison.
Ginger Bowden Madden, State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit of Florida, announced the sentencing Wednesday.
Walton County Circuit Judge J. Ryan Love sentenced Justin Diaz, now 50, to 16 years in prison followed by one year of probation. Diaz pled guilty to two counts of DUI manslaughter and two counts of driving on a suspended license with careless or negligent operation resulting in death.
On March 19, 2021, Diaz was driving on Highway 90 when he crossed over the center line into oncoming traffic causing a box truck to swerve. The crash resulted in a head-on collision with a semi-truck who was following behind the box truck. Both of Diaz’s passengers were killed in the crash.
Diaz tested positive for methamphetamine, amphetamines, and marijuana.
The investigation and arrest were conducted by the Florida Highway Patrol in a joint investigation with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
