Arrest Made in Connection in Fatal NYE Winter Park Crash

Police in Winter Park arrested a 28-year-old man this week in connection with an incident that took place on New Years Eve and resulted in the death of two young women. According to the official report from Sgt. Garvin McComie, a spokesperson for the Winter Park Police Department, the death of the two women occurred after the car they were sitting in was involved in a collision with another car. This second car, which was being driven by Fonner, the above-mentioned 28-year-old man, was traveling well above the limit at the time of the crash.

It was shortly before the new year when Pabarue and Perales, both 23-years-old, climbed into their vehicle with the intention of leaving a home located on Orange Avenue. While the reports did not mention which of the two women was behind the wheel of the car, it did indicate that the driver began to reverse the vehicle out of the driveway and onto Orange Avenue.

At the same time as the car with Pabarue and Perales was reversing, a BMW being driven by Fonner, was coming down the road. According to the report, Fonner was not alone in his vehicle, and inside his BMW were at least two other people. These people agree that shortly before the accident took place, Fonner told them that he was going to display the power of “real men’s” cars. After this statement, he began to accelerate the vehicle.

The BMW collided with Pabarue and Perales’ car, T-boning it as it was pulling out of the driveway. The force of the impact killed both women instantly and caused massive damage to both vehicles. The occupants of Fonner’s car were also injured, although they are believed to be recovering and safe from any imminent harm.

An investigation into the incident was launched following the crash, and it has taken a while for the Winter Park Police Department to make any additional statements. This past week, authorities indicated that Fonner was arrested after the police were able to confirm that he was indeed traveling far beyond the limit along Orange Avenue. BMWs are equipped with a black box recorder that remembers the speed the car was traveling at the time of a crash. In this particular case, the black box recorded that Fonner was driving around 128 mph when he T-boned the women’s car.

At the time of this writing, Fonner has paid the bond and is temporarily out of jail.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.