A Florida woman has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting she drove the wrong way on Florida’s Turnpike while under the influence, causing a head-on collision that killed a 23-year-old aspiring paramedic. During her sentencing hearing, she expressed remorse but also claimed that the toxicology report showed drugs she never knowingly used.
Sunshine Perez Pleads Guilty to DUI Manslaughter
Sunshine Perez, 46, pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide in connection with the death of Ezekiel Urrutia, 23.
A Broward County judge sentenced Perez on Friday to 20 years in state prison, bringing the criminal case to a close more than a year after the fatal crash.
Wrong-Way Crash on Florida’s Turnpike
The deadly collision occurred shortly before 2 a.m. on Jan. 9, 2025, along Florida’s Turnpike in Miramar, Florida.
According to investigators, Perez drove her SUV southbound in the northbound lanes of the highway for at least two miles before crashing head-on into Urrutia’s Honda Civic.
The impact was severe, and emergency responders pronounced Urrutia dead at the scene.
Authorities said the young man had no opportunity to avoid the collision.
Investigation Found Alcohol and Multiple Drugs
Following the crash, investigators determined that Perez’s blood-alcohol concentration was nearly twice Florida’s legal limit.
Officers at the scene also reported that she had bloodshot eyes and smelled strongly of alcohol.
Toxicology tests further revealed the presence of THC, methamphetamine, and oxycodone in her system.
Those findings became a key part of the prosecution’s case.
Perez Says She Did Not Knowingly Use Certain Drugs
While speaking during her sentencing hearing, Perez became emotional and insisted that the toxicology report included substances she did not knowingly consume.
She told the court that she had finished work and then visited a friend’s house, where she had an alcoholic drink. After complaining about back pain, she said she took what she believed was medication.
Perez explained that she was later surprised to learn the toxicology report showed drugs she claimed she does not use.
She suggested she had unknowingly taken something different from what she believed it to be, although no evidence presented in court changed the toxicology findings.
Emotional Courtroom Apology
Fighting back tears, Perez apologized to Urrutia’s family for the pain she caused.
She also made a remark about her first name, saying people would normally expect someone named “Sunshine” to be cheerful and bring happiness.
Instead, she said she now feels like she has brought a “rain cloud” over the victim’s family and everyone who knew him.
Perez acknowledged that her actions permanently changed the lives of those left behind and said she struggles with knowing she caused such devastating consequences.
Victim Was About to Begin Career as a Paramedic
Family members told the court that Ezekiel Urrutia had dedicated himself to helping others and was preparing to start work as a paramedic for the City of Miami at the time of his death.
His father, Frank Urrutia, described the heartbreaking moment when Florida Highway Patrol detectives arrived at the family’s home to deliver the tragic news.
He told the judge that a single decision by Perez destroyed everything his son had worked so hard to achieve.
Mother Describes Heartbreaking Loss
Urrutia’s mother, Tiffany Urrutia, delivered an emotional victim impact statement.
She said she expected to watch her son grow older, build a family, and one day become a father himself.
Instead, she said, she watched television news coverage showing her son’s body beside his wrecked vehicle.
She told the court that she would never experience the milestones she had always imagined sharing with him, including meeting and spoiling her future grandchildren.
Judge Imposes 20-Year Prison Sentence
After hearing statements from both the victim’s family and Perez, the judge sentenced Perez to 20 years in prison for the fatal DUI crash.
The sentence concludes the criminal proceedings, but for Urrutia’s family, the loss remains permanent.
The case serves as a tragic reminder of the devastating consequences of impaired driving and the irreversible impact a wrong-way crash can have on victims, their loved ones, and the wider community.
