BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2024) — A Boca Raton man was sentenced to 12 years in prison following a deadly crash that killed his 21-year-old friend in 2021.
The crash happened near Camino Del Mar at Palm D’ Oro in unincorporated Boca Raton just after 3:30 PM on August 3rd, 2021.
Christopher Gallon was driving a Toyota Corolla with two other passengers southeast on Camino Del Mar, at a high rate of speed. At the same time, Jacinto Florez was traveling northeast on Palm D Oro Rd and failed to come to a complete stop. As Florez attempted to turn left onto Camino Del Mar the front right of Gallon’s speeding Corolla then struck the front left of Florez’ Nissan Rogue.
The Nissan then came to rest in the intersection. Gallon’s Corolla continued onto the grassy shoulder and overturned on the north side of the road, coming to rest.
Sadly, David Hernandez, then 21, was ejected from the Corolla’s rear seat. Hernandez was transported to Delray Medical where he was later pronounced deceased.
Investigators say that Gallon and the two passengers were coming from Kapow in Mizner where Gallon consumed at least 3 Mimosas.
Investigators say that Gallon, 24-years-old at the time, refused to provide a blood draw. A blood draw warrant was then obtained to draw blood without consent. According to investigators, Gallon was well over the legal limit, with .129 grams of ethanol per 100 milliliters of blood at the time of the first blood draw. Investigators also noted the presence of THC in his system at the time.
Now that the court proceedings have ended, Gallon was sentenced to 12 years in prison and found guilty of DUI manslaughter, reckless driving, and driving under the influence causing injury. The judge also ordered a lifetime license revocation, meaning Gallon will never allowed legally drive a vehicle again.
