Driver on meth and cocaine kills mom in crash day after DUI arrest, Florida cops say
A driver was released from jail the morning after a DUI charge, then hours later he caused a fatal crash that killed a mom driving her three kids, Florida authorities said.
Nicholas Betancourt, 33, is facing 27 charges in connection with the Feb. 28 head-on crash while he was accused of being high on meth and cocaine, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced March 14.
Betancourt was first arrested Feb. 27 when someone reported a motorist driving recklessly in neighboring Pinellas County, deputies wrote in a motion for pretrial detention. His blood alcohol level was zero, but deputies said he showed signs of being on drugs, so they arrested him and booked him in jail, court records show.
He posted bond the next morning and got back on the road in his minivan, even though his license had been suspended the night before, deputies said.
That afternoon, he was driving 13 mph over the speed limit in Hillsborough County when he drifted into oncoming traffic and hit a Lincoln Town Car driven by 36-year-old Dana Rivera, according to investigators.
Crash data showed Betancourt didn’t hit the brakes before crashing into the family at about 58 mph, according to court filings.
Rivera was trapped in the driver seat and died, while her three kids ages 4, 6 and 15 were seriously injured, deputies said.
Investigators reported searching Betancourt’s minivan after the crash and finding a suitcase containing methamphetamine, oxycodone, Xanax, ecstasy and carisoprodol, which is a muscle relaxer.
Betancourt was hospitalized as well, and on March 13 he was arrested on charges including vehicular homicide, DUI manslaughter, DUI with serious bodily injury and an array of other criminal traffic and drug offenses.
“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,” Hillsborough County 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.”
Hillsborough County includes the Tampa Bay area.
This story was originally published March 17, 2025 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Driver on meth and cocaine kills mom in crash day after DUI arrest, Florida cops say."