Detention Deputy Charged With Vehicular Homicide Following Fatal Crash

TAMPA, FL — A Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office employee is facing charges related to a traffic crash that turned fatal.

While off duty and in a personal vehicle on Aug. 20, the sheriff's office said Detention Deputy Daniel Hernandez was involved in a traffic crash just before 8 p.m. on North Dale Mabry Highway.

Hernandez collided with another vehicle, seriously injuring the other driver and suffering minor injuries to himself. The other driver died at the hospital days later.

An investigation into the crash was conducted by the Florida Highway Patrol, and it was determined that Hernandez was driving at an excessive speed in his personal vehicle at the time of the crash.

Hernandez has worked as a detention deputy since April 2016 and served in the U.S. Air Force prior to joining the Hillsborough sheriff. He did not drive a motor vehicle in his position at the Orient Road Jail.

On Monday, Hernandez turned himself in on charges of vehicular homicide and reckless driving with serious bodily injury.

"As a sheriff's office, we are constantly reminding the public that speeding can have severe, long-lasting consequences for both the driver and others involved," Sheriff Chad Chronister said. "The actions of Daniel Hernandez on the night of the crash are inexcusable and not a reflection of the many men and women who work to take aggressive drivers off of our roadways every day. While Hernandez did not drive a sheriff's office vehicle in his role as a detention deputy, due to the severity of his charges, he has been removed from his position and will remain on unpaid administrative leave as our internal investigation into the crash continues."