Woman in deadly crash was nearly 3 times over alcohol limit, police say

Jessica Araujo's blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit when she ran a red light in Southwest Miami-Dade and slammed into another car, killing the driver, according to an arrest warrant issued Tuesday.

Araujo, 25, was being held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center Wednesday on an $80,000 bond facing charges including DUI manslaughter, reckless vehicular homicide, cocaine possession, DUI causing bodily injury and reckless driving causing bodily injury.

According to police, Araujo was driving a 2011 Hyundai Sonata south on Southwest 127th Avenue at about 1:30 a.m. April 21 “at a high rate of speed,” when she went through a red light and struck a Toyota Prius traveling east on Southwest 120th Street. The force sent the cars into a Toyota Corolla, which was facing north on 127th Avenue.

The Prius’ driver, Naji El-Kadi, 48, was airlifted to Kendall Regional Trauma Center in critical condition and later died.

Araujo and the driver of the Corolla, Manuel Suquet-Martinez, 50, were not seriously injured.

Investigators suspected Araujo may have been impaired and withdrew Araujo’s blood at the hospital. Araujo’s first blood draw at 2:23 a.m. came back with a .225 reading, the warrant said. The legal limit is .08. Another draw, nearly five hours after the accident came back at .135, according to the warrant.

This story was originally published July 20, 2016 at 8:21 PM with the headline "Woman in deadly crash was nearly 3 times over alcohol limit, police say."