LAKE WORTH, FL — A Boynton Beach man has been sentenced to more than 20 years in state prison for a fatal 2024 crash at Lantana Road and Congress Avenue, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and Palm Beach County court records.
Raekwon Isaiah Johnson, 28, was sentenced May 29, 2026, to 20.65 years in the Florida Department of Corrections after pleading guilty in the case, PBSO said. His driver’s license was revoked for life.
The crash happened on Aug. 7, 2024, at Lantana Road and Congress Avenue in the Lake Worth area. Sacha Rukin, 69, was killed in the crash, according to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case.
PBSO said Johnson pleaded guilty on Jan. 29, 2026, to fleeing or attempting to elude causing death, leaving the scene of a crash involving death, DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide and three counts of leaving the scene of a crash involving injury.
According to the probable cause affidavit, an Atlantis Police officer saw a white Volkswagen SUV run a red light while traveling southbound on Congress Avenue. The officer initiated a traffic stop, activated emergency lights and briefly used the siren, according to the affidavit.
The Volkswagen stopped about 800 feet north of Lantana Road, and the officer approached the vehicle. Police identified Johnson as the driver.
The affidavit states that the officer detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle and asked Johnson whether he had a medical marijuana card. Johnson allegedly said he did not have one.
When the officer asked for Johnson’s driver’s license, Johnson allegedly shifted the vehicle into drive and accelerated southbound on Congress Avenue, fleeing the stop, according to the affidavit. The officer then broadcast the information over police radio.
Investigators wrote that Johnson entered the intersection at Lantana Road through a red light. A 2021 Ford Escape driven by Rukin was traveling eastbound through the intersection on a green light, according to the affidavit.
The front of Johnson’s Volkswagen struck the driver’s side front door of Rukin’s Ford Escape, investigators said. The impact redirected the Ford Escape and caused it to rotate before striking another vehicle, according to the affidavit and PBSO crash report.
Rukin was flown to St. Mary’s Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. Another driver was transported to JFK Medical Center for treatment, according to the probable cause affidavit.
After the crash, Johnson allegedly got out of the driver’s seat and ran from the scene. An Atlantis Police officer later spotted him running southbound near the entrance to the South Florida Jewish Cemetery, about 575 feet from the crash scene, according to the affidavit.
Johnson was apprehended a short time later.
The affidavit states that Johnson later made unsolicited statements to an officer, including asking whether anyone died in the crash, saying he knew it was his fault and saying he knew he was going to jail.
PBSO said in an Aug. 11, 2024, update that investigators were told Johnson was planning to flee the area. A warrant was obtained, and he was taken into custody.
Palm Beach County court records show Johnson was adjudicated guilty on May 29, 2026. The court imposed 199.8 months in state prison on the fleeing and leaving-the-scene-death counts, with those terms running concurrently with several other counts. The court also imposed a four-year prison term on the DUI manslaughter count, consecutive to the other sentence, bringing the total prison term to 20.65 years.
After his release, Johnson must serve 10 years of probation. The court also ordered him to complete 200 hours of community service, DUI school and a victim impact panel. Court costs, fees and restitution were also ordered, with restitution to be determined later.
Court records show Johnson received 658 days of credit for time served.
This story is part of our ongoing Lake Worth News reporting.
