Background: Photo of the aftermath of the crash in Bradenton, Fla., that killed Sara-Danielle Holmes on Nov. 2, 2024 (Bradenton Police Department). Inset (left): Sara-Danielle Holmes (GoFundMe). Inset (right): Cesar Navarrete (Bradenton Police Department).
A man from Florida, who confessed to driving under the influence and causing a fatal collision with an SUV, will face over 20 years in prison.
Twenty-seven-year-old Cesar Navarrete admitted guilt to four charges, including DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide, related to a tragic car accident in November 2024 that claimed the life of 37-year-old Sara-Danielle Holmes. On Thursday, he received a 25-year prison sentence, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and his driver’s license was permanently revoked.
Holmes, a mother of two young daughters, was a passenger in a Chevy Equinox driven by her boyfriend, Sergio Larcher de Brito, on the night of November 2, 2024. Both de Brito and Navarrete, along with Navarrete’s passenger, sustained injuries but survived the crash, as reported by the Bradenton Police Department.
In a statement about the sentencing, the Bradenton Police Department revealed that Navarrete was speeding at 115 miles per hour and was intoxicated when he ignored a red light and collided with the Equinox carrying Holmes and de Brito. The impact was so severe that it “split the vehicle in half,” according to police. Holmes was transported to a hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Authorities reported that at the crash scene, Navarrete exhibited “signs of impairment,” and an investigation confirmed his blood alcohol level was 0.165. He had a prior DUI conviction and was operating the vehicle with a suspended license at the time.
In an interview with local ABC affiliate WFTS, Holmes’ mother expressed her devastation, stating, “Get behind a 2,000-pound missile, a weapon, drive through traffic like that and take into consideration nobody around you.”
WFTS reported that Holmes had just finished her shift at work and was heading back home with de Brito. They were a block away from her home when they were hit.
Navarrete pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide, DUI manslaughter, driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license and causing serious bodily injury or death. In addition to his prison sentence, Navarrete was ordered to pay more than $40,000 in fines and restitution.
A GoFundMe page started by Holmes’ loved ones to raise money for her surviving daughters is still active.
