DUI Driver Killed Mother, Injured Kids Hours After Arrest: Sheriff

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Hours after a man was arrested for driving under the influence last month, he got back behind the wheel and hit another car, killing a mother and injuring her three children, according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Nicholas Betancourt, 33, was arrested for a DUI on Feb. 27 by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s office. He was released the following day around 9 a.m.

Later that day, around 3:45 p.m., hours after his release, Betancourt, whose license was suspended, was heading north on Gunn Highway when he entered the southbound lanes and hit another vehicle, HCSO said.

The driver, 36-year-old Dana Rivera, was killed in the crash and three of her children — a 4-year-old, a 6-year-old and a 15-year-old — were seriously injured.

Betancourt showed signs of impairment but was brought to a local hospital for injuries to both legs, the sheriff’s office said.

Investigators learned that he was under the influence of cocaine and methamphetamine. While searching his vehicle, deputies found multiple drugs, including methamphetamine, mushrooms, cocaine, MDMA, oxycodone, Xanax and carisoprodol.

"A mother lost her life, and her children will carry that emotional scar forever. This family's life was shattered in an instant because of one man's selfish and reckless decision," Sheriff Chad Chronister said. "Nicholas Betancourt chose to drive under the influence not once, but twice in just hours, leading to a tragedy that could have been entirely avoided."

• Driving under the influence manslaughter
• Two counts of driving under the influence with property damage or injury
• Two counts of driving under the influence serious bodily
• Two counts of reckless driving with serious bodily injury
• Two counts of reckless driving with property damage or injury
• Driving with a suspended license resulting in death
• Two counts of driving with a suspended license resulting in serious bodily injury
• Seven counts of drug paraphernalia
• Possession of cocaine
• Six counts of possession of a controlled substance

"Nothing will ever bring their mother back or erase the trauma these children will carry for the rest of their lives, but we want them to know they are not alone. We will stand by them," Chronister said. "We will do everything in our power to ensure this man is held accountable for the devastation he has caused. I hope this arrest brings Dana Rivera's family some sense of peace and justice."