Man In U.S. Illegally Dies In Jail Following DUI Manslaughter Arrest

HAINES CITY, FL — Polk County sheriff's detectives are investigating the death of a Polk County jail inmate who was being held after he was charged with DUI manslaughter.

According to the sheriff's office, 43-year-old Doroteo Martinez-Castro of Haines City was arrested Saturday around 10:55 p.m. following a crash at U.S. 17/92 and Lee Jackson Highway North, just north of Haines City.

Deputies said Martinez-Castro was driving a black Honda Accord north on Lee Jackson Highway when he entered the southbound lane of U.S. 17/92 at the V-intersection and struck a silver Toyota Prius driven by a 23-year-old Davenport man head on.

Both were taken to the hospital, where the 23-year-old died. Martinez-Castro was treated for an ankle injury.

Deputies said they found cans of Modelo beer in Martinez-Castro’s car, and he admitted to a detective that he drank multiple beers and Crown Royal whiskey a short time before the crash.

Upon his release from the hospital Sunday morning, he was taken to the Polk County Jail's medical dorm and charged with DUI manslaughter, driving with a suspended license, causing a death and driving on the wrong side of the road.

The sheriff's office said Martinez-Castro was from Mexico and was in the United States illegally. He previously had a learner's permit to drive, but it was suspended in 2019 after he was arrested by Haines City police on traffic charges.

Martinez-Castro was deported to Mexico twice since that arrest. His criminal history includes four traffic-related misdemeanor arrests.

According to the sheriff's office, Martinez-Castro was monitored by deputies and medical staff every 15 minutes through Monday morning at the jail's medical dorm.

When his food tray was delivered at 10:40 a.m., a deputy noticed that Martinez-Castro was sitting unresponsive in his wheelchair. Deputies and medical staff began CPR and then transported him to AdventHealth Sebring.

He was declared dead at 11:31 a.m.

An initial autopsy conducted on Tuesday showed that Martinez-Castro died as a result of crash-related internal injuries. Final autopsy results are pending toxicology reports.

The medical examiner, sheriff's office and sheriff's administration will conduct independent investigations into the death and forward the results to the state attorney's office.