An Orlando man stands accused of a 2022 fatal car accident that claimed the lives of two people and gravely injured another, law enforcement officials have reported. Christian Carlson, 25, was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide and reckless driving in connection with the high-speed crash that took place nearly three years prior, which occurred on August 9, 2022.
The collision unfolded on University Boulevard when the defendant, driving significantly over the 45 mph speed limit, crashed into a Nissan Versa attempting a left turn onto Pelee Street. According to the ClickOrlando report, witnesses indicated Carlson was speeding, traveling between 84 and 99 mph. The victims in the Versa, a 44-year-old woman and an 18-year-old man, died from their injuries sustained in the crash, and the vehicle's impact injured a pedestrian, landscaper David Small. Carlson himself was hospitalized with serious injuries but survived the incident.
In a statement shared by FOX 35 Orlando, David Small recounted the crash's impact on his life: "I don’t have the same smile which I was known for, and I was loved for my smile, and that brought so much light to every situation from that," said Small. "So that’s one thing that scarred me the most."
While Small expressed a mix of survivor's guilt and an attempt to heal, he and his wife are trying to move forward with their lives. His wife, Victoria Martinez, articulated their stance toward the accused: "We do forgive him because we’re nobody to judge, but you know, you do have to pay for your mistakes." The couple's traumatic memories persist, yet they underscore a sense of forgiveness in the wake of the tragedy. As for what lies ahead, Carlson will face his day in court on July 14 to answer for the charges stemming from that fateful day, as detailed by FOX 35 Orlando.
