Trial Set In DUI Death Of Cantonment Man

April 19, 2011

Trial has been set for a Pace man charged with the traffic death of a Cantonment man.

henleymatthew.jpgMotorcyclist Matthew Christopher Harrison, 29, of Cantonment, was eastbound on Highway 90 in Pace on April 10, 2010, when he was struck by a Ford Taurus driven by Ronnie L. Henley, 49, of Pace. Harrison laid down his motorcycle in an attempt to avoid Henley, but he was run over by Henley’s car, according to the FHP. Harrison was pronounced dead at the scene.

Henley (pictured) was charged with DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of a crash with death, and possession of marijuana under 20 grams. His trial is now set to begin May 9 in Santa Rosa County.

Henley  immediately fled the scene, according to the FHP. Witnesses, including an off-duty Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputy, followed him. Henley was stopped at the intersection of Floridatown Road and Cotton Road where he was arrested.

Troopers found Henley to be under the influence of alcohol, and blood samples were turned over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. His blood alcohol level was found to be .243, about three times the legal limit. A small amount of marijuana was also located in the Taurus, the FHP said.

Henley was charged with DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of a crash with death, and possession of marijuana under 20 grams. He remains in the Santa Rosa County Jail with bond set at $505,000.

Comments

One Response to “Trial Set In DUI Death Of Cantonment Man”

  1. little raine on April 20th, 2011 12:18 pm

    It’s bad enough to drive drunk, but to run over someone and leave them laying in the road. How terrible for both families involved, they both loose. I think when a person gets behind the wheel drunk, thats the same as takeing a gun and going out and saying I might shoot someone and I might not, we’ll have to see.