Shocking news from Florida: A Miami Hurricanes linebacker has been arrested in connection with a tragic May crash that claimed three lives, including two young children. What led to this devastating incident?
Miami Hurricanes linebacker Adarius Hayes, a promising collegiate athlete, has been formally arrested and charged in connection with a tragic vehicular crash that occurred in May, resulting in the deaths of three innocent individuals, including two young children. The devastating incident has sent shockwaves through the community and the collegiate sports world, with authorities detailing a harrowing sequence of events leading to the multi-fatality collision.
The fatal accident unfolded on May 10 in Largo, Florida, when a Dodge Durango, driven by Hayes, collided with a Kia Soul. The impact claimed the lives of a 78-year-old woman, Gail Price, and two children, identified by their mother as 10-year-old Jabarai Solomon and 4-year-old Charlie Solomon Riveria. This catastrophic event has left a profound void in the lives of the victims’ families, underscoring the severe consequences of reckless driving.
The immediate aftermath of the crash saw the two young rear passengers in the Kia ejected from the vehicle, tragically pronounced dead at the scene. Gail Price, the elderly driver of the Kia, succumbed to her injuries the following day after being hospitalized. While a front passenger, 58-year-old Herbert Riveria, the father of one of the deceased children, survived his injuries, the Solomon family faces an unimaginable loss, as expressed by their mother, “I’m still a mother of three, but now I only have one living child that I have to stay strong for.”
A thorough investigation by Largo Police officials meticulously reconstructed the moments leading to the collision. Data from a search warrant obtained for Hayes’ vehicle revealed alarming details: he was reportedly traveling at 70.8 mph five seconds before impact, accelerating to a maximum speed of 78.9 mph in a posted 40 mph zone. This egregious speed was coupled with highly aggressive maneuvers, as Hayes was observed “maneuvering aggressively” and making “rapid and dangerous” lane changes across three lanes of traffic without signaling.
Investigators concluded that Hayes’ actions demonstrated a profound “willful and deliberate disregard for the safety of others,” directly leading to the catastrophic outcomes. The Kia Soul, in contrast, was making a lawful left turn when it was struck. The comprehensive findings from the police report paint a clear picture of highly negligent driving behavior that escalated into a fatal incident, establishing the grounds for the severe charges.
Following the detailed investigation, Hayes, a 20-year-old Miami Hurricanes linebacker, turned himself in to the Largo Police Department on Friday. He now faces three counts of vehicular homicide, reflecting the three lives lost, and one count of reckless driving with serious bodily injury, acknowledging the harm inflicted on the surviving passenger. Hayes was subsequently booked into the Pinellas County Jail, awaiting further legal proceedings in this high-profile case.
In response to the grave charges, the University of Miami promptly announced the indefinite suspension of Adarius Hayes from all athletic-related activities, aligning with department policy. Hayes, who played in 12 games as a freshman for the Hurricanes, primarily on special teams, was a highly touted four-star recruit from Largo High. His promising college football career now faces an uncertain future amidst the serious legal challenges arising from this tragic incident, highlighting the severe repercussions of his alleged actions.
