Recent accident links company

Leon may face vehicular homicide for student deaths

By Richard Harris

The driver responsible for the deaths of two Flagler College students last November may face charges of vehicular manslaughter.

Miguel Leon of Ponte Vedra, Fla. struck a car carrying four Flagler College students on Interstate 95 late Nov. 17. Sophomore Lindsay Chain and freshman Jessica Kaufman were killed in the crash. Freshman William Anderson and sophomore Stephanie Estes were also in the vehicle and were hospitalized with serious injuries.

Investigators for the Florida Highway Patrol have recommended Leon be charged with vehicular homicide, according to St. John’s County public affairs officer Lieutenant William H. Leeper. “It’s in the state attorney’s hands,” he said. The state attorney’s office was contacted, but no response was delivered by the time of this publication.

The 18-wheeler driven by Leon was registered to Allied Systems Limited. The same trucking company was involved in an accident on March 14. The accident, involving an empty automobile carrier and a minivan, sent an entire family to the hospital.

The most recent accident is still under investigation according to Leeper. The driver will face charges pending the close of the investigation. Leeper said despite the trucking company’s name, there is no apparent connection between the two accidents or the involvement of Allied Systems Limited. “It was the same trucking company, but there were different circumstances and different drivers. It was just a coincidence,” he said.

A representative for Allied Systems Limited said the company had no comment regarding the matter.