A recent off-road excursion has ended in tragedy, deeply affecting the Treasure Coast community. Authorities have arrested a 25-year-old Vero Beach resident following a fatal utility terrain vehicle (UTV) crash in neighboring Okeechobee County. The devastating incident resulted in the death of a Port St. Lucie woman and left two others injured, including another local resident from Vero Beach.
Blanca Y. Ruiz Dominguez of Vero Beach was officially taken into custody by the Florida Highway Patrol this past Saturday evening at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, shortly after being medically cleared by hospital staff. She has since been booked into the St. Lucie County Jail. Ruiz Dominguez is currently facing severe legal consequences, with official charges including:
- One count of DUI causing death to a human or unborn child, for which she is currently being held without bail.
- Three counts of DUI damage to property or person, which carry a combined bail set at $30,000.
The fatal crash took place on May 16 along NW 240th Street, situated on a rural property managed by the Coquina Water Control District in Okeechobee County. First responders arrived to discover a four-seater UTV, commonly referred to as a side-by-side, sitting upright on a patch of soft sand. The scene presented a grim picture, with vehicle debris scattered across the area, visible blood on the driver-side door, and severe damage to both rear tires.
Law enforcement officials thoroughly documented the scene, uncovering troubling evidence. Investigators located a bottle of Corona beer in the back of the vehicle, mixed with crushed Modelo cans and blood on the sand. Witness testimony further corroborated a narrative of heavy drinking prior to the catastrophic accident.
According to witness statements provided to troopers, the group had been spending time in Fort Pierce before traveling to the rural Okeechobee property. Witnesses observed the driver consuming shots of whiskey and beer before getting behind the wheel with three passengers. The UTV reportedly accelerated rapidly, kicking up sand, before executing a sharp, hard left turn that caused the vehicle to violently overturn.
The abrupt rollover deeply impacted several families, resulting in the following casualties:
- A 34-year-old woman from Port St. Lucie, who was ejected from the vehicle and struck the sand surface. She was promptly airlifted to HCA Lawnwood Hospital but tragically succumbed to her injuries.
- A 24-year-old woman from Vero Beach, who sustained injuries in the crash.
- A 33-year-old woman from Homestead, who was also injured during the rollover.
According to reports from a hospital nurse speaking to a Fort Pierce police sergeant, Ruiz Dominguez registered a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.128%, which is well above Florida’s legal driving limit of 0.08%. A second passenger provided statements to law enforcement that were consistent with the initial witness accounts regarding the events leading up to the crash.
The UTV suffered an estimated $5,000 in property damage, but the human cost remains the focal point of this tragic event. The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing its thorough investigation into the crash to ensure all facts are meticulously documented for the impending legal proceedings.
