Youth Pastor Arrested in DUI Crash That Killed 8-Year-Old Daughter

A South Florida youth pastor is facing DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide charges after investigators say he was impaired and driving 104 mph when he crashed, killing his 8-year-old daughter (Proverbs 31:8-9).

Joel Isaias Leiniz, 38, was arrested following an investigation into the Jan. 17 crash on South Military Trail near West Palm Beach. According to his LinkedIn profile, Leiniz works as a youth pastor in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area.

During a post-Miranda interview, Leiniz told investigators he and his children were traveling from a church concert to Tacos Al Carbon, a Mexican restaurant. He said he lost control of the SUV and did not remember how fast he was traveling, but did not think he was speeding because his children were in the vehicle.

Investigators said evidence at the scene, including tire marks, roadway damage and the extensive destruction to the SUV, indicated the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed before impact. A security guard working at a nearby nightclub also told deputies he saw the Audi speeding south on Military Trail before it crashed into the pole.

A later download of the vehicle’s event data recorder showed the SUV was traveling 104 mph in a posted 40 mph zone about five seconds before the crash, according to the arrest affidavit. The data also showed the brakes were activated approximately two seconds before impact.

Hospital testing showed Leiniz had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.083 following the crash, slightly above Florida’s legal limit of 0.08. Investigators concluded Leiniz was impaired when the crash occurred (Ephesians 5:11).

Based on the speed of the vehicle and the toxicology findings, investigators determined Leiniz was driving recklessly and with “willful and wanton disregard” for the safety of others. He was charged with vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter.

Source: Read the original report