A former Polk County deputy who fled the country before trial is now headed to prison for 32.5 years, after a jury found him guilty in a high-speed DUI crash that killed two people on the Courtney Campbell Causeway in April 2022. Joshua Roelofs, 37, was convicted in February on charges that included DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide. The courtroom was packed Monday with grieving relatives who spoke for the dead and the injured, as a case that has haunted Tampa Bay and spotlighted speed on the causeway finally reached sentencing.
Judge Drops 32.5-Year Hammer
The judge settled on a 32.5-year prison term after jurors convicted Roelofs last month. Prosecutors had pushed hard for a life sentence, while the defense urged mercy, pointing to his expressed remorse and his role as a father of three daughters. Multiple family members of the victims addressed the court in person or through written statements before the sentence was announced, according to FOX 13 Tampa Bay.
Deadly Pre-Dawn Wreck on the Causeway
The fatal crash unfolded in the early morning hours of April 13, 2022, when investigators say Roelofs was behind the wheel of a Nissan GT-R that slammed into the back of a Kia Sorento carrying four people. The impact sent the SUV rolling and ejecting occupants. Two 44-year-old men, Kristopher Koroly and Ricky Gongora, were killed, while the two other passengers were critically hurt. Survivors and relatives have described lasting fallout from the wreck, including disabling brain injuries that continue to shape their daily lives, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times.
High Speed, Dashcam Video and DUI Evidence
At trial, prosecutors leaned heavily on dashcam video and expert witnesses. They told jurors the footage showed Roelofs revving his engine, weaving through traffic and hitting roughly 103 miles per hour in the seconds before the crash. A state toxicologist testified about a blood sample taken hours after the collision and walked the jury through the state’s timeline for estimating his level of impairment. One sister who also serves as caretaker for a surviving passenger told the court he now has only about 25 percent brain function and requires constant care, according to FOX 13 Tampa Bay.
From No-Show Defendant to International Arrest
Roelofs briefly turned the case into a fugitive saga. He failed to appear when jury selection was set to begin in April 2025, prompting a judge to revoke his bond and issue a warrant. Investigators later tracked him to a hotel in Antioquia, Colombia, where authorities arrested him and sent him back to Florida to stand trial. Records show Roelofs had previously worked for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office until 2015, when he was arrested in a time-card falsification case. Prosecutors said the long, winding history of the case helped drive their push for a severe sentence, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
What Comes Next for Families and the Case
The 32.5-year sentence marks a major milestone in the criminal case, though Roelofs still has the option to appeal. Civil lawsuits by victims’ families also remain on the table. For many in Tampa Bay, the deadly crash serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly a late-night drive across the Courtney Campbell Causeway can turn into a life-altering disaster and of the long road families face as they try to rebuild.
