PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — A woman has been arrested and criminally charged in connection with a crash that killed three Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies in 2024, prosecutors confirmed Thursday.
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State Attorney Alexcia Cox confirmed in a news release obtained by Local 10 that Corrinne Adrianna Blue, 32, faces three counts of vehicular homicide in the Nov. 21, 2024 crash that claimed the lives of Corporal Luis Paez Jr., Deputy Ignacio “Dan” Diaz and Deputy Ralph “Butch” Waller.
According to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, the crash occurred around 9 a.m. that day in the 18000 block of Southern Boulevard, just west of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, near Lion Country Safari.
Bradshaw said the deputies had pulled over on the side of the road in a grassy swale, waiting for battery cables, when an SUV struck their motorcycles.
He also confirmed that Blue was heading eastbound in the center lane in a Jeep Grand Cherokee and attempted to pass a slower-moving vehicle on the right when investigators said she overcompensated, veering into the deputies and “sending all three airborne in different directions.”
Deputies said preliminary findings suggest Blue was not impaired. She sustained minor injuries in the crash.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Blue was driving the SUV in an “unsafe manner” and at a speed well above the posted 55 mph limit when she struck the deputies.
“These charges follow a thorough review of the evidence and mark an important step in the pursuit of justice for the families of Corporal Paez, Deputy Diaz, and Deputy Waller,” Cox wrote in the news release. “These deputies were serving this community when their lives were tragically taken by a reckless driver.”
Dave Kerner, executive director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, said officials support the decision to pursue charges.
“We are thankful for the decision of State Attorney Alexcia Cox and her office in seeking and obtaining this felony warrant for arrest,” Kerner said. “We now turn our attention to the judicial process, where a jury of the defendant’s peers will decide the ultimate outcome.”
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Kerner added that, regardless of the outcome, the three deputies “are remembered as heroes of our community,” acknowledging the loss felt by their families, the sheriff’s office and the broader community.
Investigators said the case will be handled by the State Attorney’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit.
As of Thursday, Blue was being held without bond at the Palm Beach County Main Jail.
Local 10 obtained a statement from PBSO on behalf of Bradshaw, which you can read here:
“The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office continues to grieve the profound loss of our three motor deputies who were tragically killed on November 21, 2024 and November 25, 2024, in a devastating crash caused by a Corrinne Blue. Their service, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to protecting our community will never be forgotten.
Today’s announcement by the State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol that the driver has been charged with three counts of manslaughter marks an important step in the judicial process. While no legal outcome can ever replace the lives lost or ease the pain felt by their families, loved ones, and our agency, we remain committed to seeing this case through the justice system,” the st
This tragedy serves as a solemn reminder of the very real and deadly consequences of distracted driving. We urge every driver to remain focused behind the wheel because one moment of inattention can change lives forever.
We continue to stand with the families of our fallen deputies and honor their legacy through our service each and every day.”
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