SUWANNEE COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - An 8-year-old Lake City boy who was ejected from a car during a Suwannee County crash earlier this month has died.
The Florida Highway Patrol reports that 8-year-old Dewayne Keene was pronounced dead at Shands Hospital last week.
Troopers say the crash happened the night of Nov. 18 on U.S. 129 and 216th Street in Suwannee County.
They say Douglas Martin, 60, of Pompano Beach was driving his Ford F-250 south on U.S. 129 when the car in front of him, driven by 37-year-old Samantha Nichols of Lake City, began slowing down to prepare for a left turn onto 216th Street.
Martin failed to slow down, hitting the back of Nichols' car and overturning. Due to the impact, troopers say Nichols' car traveled off the road and into a ditch, where a 8-year-old Dewayne was ejected from the car.
The 8-year-old was taken to Shands Hospital where he later died.
Nichols was also transported the hospital in serious condition while Martin was hospitalized with minor injuries. A 14-year-old passenger in Nichols' car was also minorly injured, but was not hospitalized.
Troopers report Martin tested positive for alcohol in their system following the crash. Martin was arrested and charged with DUI - causing serious bodily injury to another and careless driving.
Nichols and both her child passengers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, though Martin was not.
FHP says more charges are pending as they continue investigating.
