Diego Hernandez Martinez, 45, was sentenced Friday for causing the Oct. 3, 2024 crash that killed 25-year-old Gabe Di Spirito and Joseph Royce.
A Jacksonville man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for causing a fatal crash on Beach Boulevard that resulted in the deaths of two motorcyclists, as announced by a judge on Friday afternoon.
Diego Hernandez Martinez, 45, was sentenced Friday for causing the Oct. 3, 2024 crash that killed 25-year-old Gabe Di Spirito and Joseph Royce
Initially, Hernandez Martinez faced charges of two counts of DUI manslaughter and driving without a license causing death or serious injury. In July 2025, he pleaded guilty to the DUI manslaughter charges. Martinez will serve two consecutive terms of 12.5 years each and may face deportation upon completing his sentence.
According to reports, at 7:25 p.m. on the crash day, the Florida Highway Patrol stated Hernandez Martinez was driving a Nissan Frontier east on Beach Boulevard and nearing Washburn Road, while Di Spirito and Royce were heading west on Beach Blvd.
The FHP indicated that the crash occurred when Martinez “attempted a left turn in front of the two motorcycles,” leading to a collision with Martinez’s Nissan, involving Di Spirito and his friend.
FHP said Di Spirito and Royce, who was also 25 years old, both died at the scene.
The crash caused all westbound lanes of Beach to shut down from San Pablo Road to Hodges Boulevard.
First Coast News reported previously that Di Spirito’s family awaited his arrival only a few blocks from where the tragic incident unfolded.
“We heard a loud crash, and instantly my husband exclaimed, ‘That’s my son, that’s my son,'” recounted Belinda Di Spirito, the mother of Di Spirito. “My son lay on the ground as I screamed in panic. I was frantic and desperate; we were right there when it happened.”
Belinda told First Coast News it was a nightmare her family had already lived before prior to Gabe’s death.
“We lost his older brother, Colby, two and a half years ago and he had an incident with a motorcycle as well, but it was a freak accident,” Belinda said.
Victim impact statements
The following are victim impact statements family and friends of Di Spirito and Woods read to the court during Martinez’s sentencing hearing:
“Seeing my mother in constant pain, seeing my father distraught and in disbelief, this pain and suffering are immeasurable,” said Di Spirito’s older brother.
“His death has ripped apart our lives and has profoundly impacted our entire community,” said Di Spirito’s mother, Belinda. “Our beautiful, bright boy was stolen from us in the most callous manner imaginable. Gabe embodied kindness, determination and an uplifting spirit that touched everyone around him.”
“He was full of love. Loved to joke, loved to play around. All those things were taken from us,” Royce’s mother, Nina Taylor, said.
