PBSO: 97-mph crash that killed 75-year-old man near Lantana leads to 18-year-old's arrest
An 18-year-old Boynton Beach man was driving at nearly 100 mph in a 45 mph zone and had a high level of marijuana in his system in the moments before a vehicle crash in January that killed an older man, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office alleged in arresting him this week.
Trent Steven Hewitt is facing charges of vehicular homicide and possession of marijuana following his arrest on Thursday, July 18, in the Jan. 20 death of 75-year-old David Schaffer.
During a hearing the next day at the Palm Beach County Jail, County Judge Ted Booras set Hewitt's bail at $26,000 and order that he refrain either from driving or contacting the victim's family. Booras also ordered that Hewitt be placed under court supervision upon his release. Hewitt remained in custody as of Friday afternoon, jail records showed.
"It's a terrible tragedy, and my client and his whole family feel terrible, and that's all we can say right now," said defense attorney Daniel Aaronson, who represented Hewitt in court.
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Driver made no effort to avoid fatal collision, investigators conclude
According to a sheriff's office arrest report, the fatal crash happened at about 11:45 am. Jan. 20 west of Lantana, on Hypoluxo Road near Winston Trails Golf Club. Investigators said Hewitt was driving west on Hypoluxo in a black 2010 Infiniti sedan as it approached Winston Trails Boulevard from the center lane.
Schaeffer was traveling east on Hypoluxo in a gray 2022 Kia SUV and was making a left turn onto northbound Winston Trails. Witnesses told investigators the Infiniti was traveling at a high rate of speed just moments before it "violently struck" the Kia's passenger side.
The Kia was propelled into the air and ended up crashing into a concrete pole, investigators said. The crash report said there was no evidence of braking or steering to indicate that Hewitt attempted to avoid the collision.
Schaeffer died at the scene. The crash report did not indicate the community in which he lived.
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Hewitt received care at Delray Medical Center for serious injuries. A sheriff's investigator noted that Hewitt's vehicle had the strong smell of marijuana and observed a vaping pen on the driver's side floor, the arrest report said.
Investigators obtained a warrant to have Hewitt's blood drawn at the hospital. The results indicated high levels of THC, an active ingredient found in marijuana, according to the arrest report.
A reconstruction of the crash indicated that Hewitt was traveling at minimum of 97 mph while driving in a 45 mph zone.
Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on Twitter at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: High-speed crash near Lantana leads to vehicular homicide charge
