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Woman accused of DUI manslaughter after fatal crash in Ocala

Tiara Kirkland, 44, gave breath samples over 2 times the legal limit

Tiara Kirkland, 44 (Ocala Police Department)

OCALA, Fla. – A 44-year-old woman was arrested on a DUI manslaughter charge after a fatal three-vehicle crash Wednesday night in Ocala, police said.

Tiara Kirkland was arrested in connection with the crash and taken to the Marion County jail.

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Ocala police said Kirkland was driving a Chevrolet Spark southbound on North Pine Avenue around 7:45 p.m. when she turned into the path of a Honda Civic and a Toyota Scion, both of which were traveling northbound.

According to police, the Honda managed to avoid the Chevrolet, but the Toyota collided with the Spark, causing the Scion to hit the raised median on NW 20th Street and overturn multiple times before striking three parked cars in a nearby parking lot.

Scene of a fatal three-vehicle crash Wednesday night in Ocala. (Ocala Police Department)

The passenger of the Toyota was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The Toyota’s driver was critically injured and taken to a hospital while the Honda driver was uninjured and refused medical attention, police said.

According to police, Kirkland showed signs of impairment and failed multiple field sobriety tests. Her breath samples read 0.191 and 0.186, both more than twice as much as the legal blood alcohol content limit for driving in Florida, police said.

The speeds of the Toyota and Honda may have been a factor in the crash, police said.

An investigation is ongoing.


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