A Riviera Beach man accused of causing a fatal I-95 crash as a teenager has resurfaced in a criminal case after Florida Highway Patrol stopped him traveling 110 mph. The pre-dawn traffic stop in St. Lucie County led investigators back to the death of a pedestrian on a Lantana shoulder more than three years ago.
Chris Enrique Espinal-Duron, 20, was pulled over Monday near the Port St. Lucie Boulevard exit, where a trooper allegedly clocked his Kia sedan at 110 mph, according to CBS12. He was arrested under Florida's dangerous excessive speeding law, and troopers then discovered an outstanding Palm Beach County warrant tied to the 2023 crash. Espinal-Duron was transferred Friday under that warrant, which charges him with negligent manslaughter.
The original crash happened on January 24, 2023, near the Lantana Road exit. At the time, Florida Highway Patrol said a 17-year-old driver was traveling south on I-95 at a high rate of speed, veered into a Subaru, and sent his Honda Civic onto the shoulder, where it struck a pedestrian, as reported by WPTV.
How The Fatal Crash Unfolded
The teenager had been on a school field trip with classmates from John I. Leonard High School in Greenacres, visiting the Palm Beach Museum of Natural History in Wellington. Investigators said he and three friends drove on I-95 after leaving the museum, while witnesses described a blue Honda weaving through traffic at high speed, according to the updated account from CBS12.
Espinal-Duron allegedly told investigators he had been driving about 100 mph before trying to move between vehicles near the Lantana exit. The Honda struck the Subaru, spun onto the shoulder, and hit 56-year-old Michael Anthony Smith, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators allege Espinal-Duron knew he had struck Smith but did not call 911 or provide aid. The three passengers reportedly left the crash scene, while Espinal-Duron later returned and remained there until law enforcement arrived.
What The Charges Mean
Florida's dangerous excessive speeding statute applies when a driver travels at least 100 mph in a way that threatens people or property, or at least 50 mph over the posted limit, according to the Florida Legislature. A first conviction can carry up to 30 days in jail, a $500 fine, or both.
The manslaughter allegation is separate from the speeding arrest. Under Florida law, a killing caused by culpable negligence is manslaughter, a second-degree felony, but the warrant represents an accusation—not a conviction—and Espinal-Duron is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
