German Ribon Barreto, 57, Passed Away

UPDATE

On 5/28/2024 Thomas Patrick Lewi surrendered himself on an open arrest warrant for the charges of Vehicular Homicide and DUI Manslaughter.

Originally reported by Boca Post

DELRAY BEACH, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2024) — German Barreto was killed in a violent car accident in Delray Beach early on Sunday morning.

The deadly crash happened near Military Trail and Las Verdes Drive in unincorporated Delray Beach just before 4 AM on Sunday, February 4th, 2024.

German Ribon Barreto, 57, was driving a Toyota Rav-4 northbound on Military Trail approaching the intersection of Las Verdes Drive in the center lane. At the same time, Thomas Patrick Lewis was driving a Mercedes C250 northbound on Military Trail from Linton Boulevard closing on Barreto from the rear.

For unknown reasons Lewis failed to fully steer away from Barreto’s Toyota causing the front right of the Mercedes to impact the left rear of Barreto’s car. As Barreto’s car was impacted it violently rotated northeast off of the roadway impacting a standing telephone pole at the intersection of Las Verdes Drive and came to rest.

Lewis continued in his Mercedes northeast for a short time before veering east off of the roadway, mounting the curb, traversing the sidewalk and rolling to rest in a grassy area.

Barreto was pronounced deceased on scene and Lewis sustained minor injuries. PBSO investigators note that Alcohol/Drugs may be a factor and that a criminal investigation is active.