Titusville Police have arrested a local man in connection to the death of a woman involved in a multi-vehicle traffic crash at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, May 30, 2022, near the 5000 block of South Washington Avenue (US #1).
Tyler John Zimmerman, 26, of Cocoa, was arrested and charged with Felony DUI Manslaughter.
The preliminary investigation revealed the suspect, along with passenger Kristen Ann Kief, 29, of West Virginia, riding on a Harley Davidson motorcycle, traveling southbound on South Washington Avenue near the intersection of Riveredge Drive, struck the rear of a 2001 silver Pontiac Grand AM GT, driven by Vernon Terry Pierce, 61, of Cocoa.
Kief was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased at approximately 5 PM.
Zimmerman was transported to local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Evidence from an intensive homicide investigation, along with medical evidence revealing Zimmerman had a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.122. The legal limit BAC is 0.08, which subsequently resulted in a warrant for his arrest by the Titusville Police Department.
Zimmerman was located by Brevard County Sheriff Deputies, and acting in compliance with the outstanding warrant, placed him in custody on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 without incident.
“Our highest priority is motorist and pedestrian safety and driving under the influence is irresponsible, inexcusable and illegal”, said Traffic Homicide Investigator Kaitlyn Kelly. “Our department continues to worked diligently to bring justice to Ms. Kief and her family”, added Kelly.
Zimmerman was transported to the Brevard County Jail and is being held on a $35,000 bond.