Bond Revoked For DUI Manslaughter Suspect

January 16, 2019

The man accused of the DUI crash that took the lives of a brother and sister early Saturday morning appeared before a judge Tuesday.

Judge Kerra Smith revoked bond for 24-year old Hunter Russell Black in an unrelated battery case from October 2018. Black was in a pre-trail diversion program on that charge, and a condition of his release was that he would not get arrested.

The Florida Highway said Black was traveling west on Kingsfield Road near Kingslake Drive about 12:30 Saturday morning when he crossed the centerline into the path of a 2001 Mitsubishi driven by 22-year old Antoinette Marie McCoy of Pensacola. McCoy attempted to avoid the collision but was hit head-on.

McCoy and her brother, 15-year old Tate High School student Sean Banks, died at local hospitals shortly after the crash.

Black was charged with two counts of DUI manslaughter and two counts of reckless driving causing serious bodily injury by the Florida Highway Patrol. He was released from jail about 1 a.m. Sunday on a $25,000 bond. He was returned to jail Monday after a motion was filed to revoke his bond on the battery charge.

According to State Attorney Bill Eddins,  Black’s release from jail was the result of a misunderstanding with the Florida Highway Patrol, which led to the $25,000 bond amount being set.

Black is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment hearing in the DUI manslaughter case on February 1.

The State Attorney’s Office has filed a motion to have the charges against Black upgraded to two counts of vehicular homicide. Each count can carry up to 15 years in prison.

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Pictured top: Hunter Black appeared in video court Tuesday in a battery case. Image courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

6 Responses to “Bond Revoked For DUI Manslaughter Suspect”

  1. Nolan on January 17th, 2019 3:36 pm

    @tooma do you always speak so liberally while being so uninformed? The DUI laws in Florida are some of the most draconian in the world. There are countless people in prison for nothing more than simple DUI. Not to mention the massive fees implemented by the state along with ridiculous periods of license suspension. Unless you’ve never drank and drove or your children enevr have I suggest you save judgement for our maker sir.

  2. Calvinqualls on January 17th, 2019 10:38 am

    Let this be a lesson for both old and young think twice or even three times before you take the wheel under the influence of alcohol drugs prescription medicine because it could be you next time that take a life the life you save just might be your own!

  3. Red on January 16th, 2019 6:10 pm

    Just to be clear on this. There’s is nothing saying that this kid was drinking and driving. It’s a DUI, we dont know what influence he was under just that he killed 2 innocent people under the influence of something. Drinking and driving is bad of course. But any other drug is also

  4. tooma on January 16th, 2019 9:07 am

    The statistics keep racking up, but the laws that are in place do nothing to deter the drunks from devastating lives. The ripple effect is horrific for so many that have to endure the aftermath of the fools that make the decision to drink and drive.

    Two young lives with bright futures gone because of you Black. A life of regret for you as you sober up in prison. The max sentence for what you have done will not be enough punishment.

  5. Karen on January 16th, 2019 6:17 am

    Good right where he needs to be now sit down and dream about what u have done

  6. chris on January 16th, 2019 3:01 am

    Good.
    Finally some sanity for the victims families.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News