A 41-year-old Sebastian man, Vernon Hodges, has been arrested after a high-speed chase that ended in a tragic crash on Interstate 95 near Cocoa, Florida. The crash, which occurred on March 28, led to the deaths of three passengers in the car. Hodges was driving a Mercedes at speeds exceeding 100 mph, and police had initiated the chase after spotting the car speeding and driving recklessly.
The passengers who died in the crash were identified as Alicia Marie Carter, 31, of Melbourne; Eleasya Janee Fulton, 24, of Palm Bay; and Leon Holmes, 41, of Vero Beach. Hodges, along with a pedestrian at the scene, was taken to the hospital but was later discharged and arrested on March 31.
According to investigators, Hodges’ Mercedes was speeding at 110 mph as it exited the ramp, where it crashed into two tow trucks parked on the shoulder. One of the tow truck workers, a 39-year-old Palm Bay man, was seriously injured during the crash.
Investigators discovered an empty beer bottle in the vehicle, and medical staff at the hospital noted that Hodges smelled of alcohol. Hodges’ previous criminal history includes two DUI convictions and five convictions for driving with a suspended license, and at the time of the crash, his driver’s license had been revoked.
The charges against Vernon Hodges include three counts of Capital Felony Murder, three counts of Vehicular Homicide, and multiple DUI and fleeing from law enforcement charges. He is currently being held without bond.
