BRADENTON, Fla. (WWSB) – The Bradenton Police Department has arrested 25-year-old Cesar Navarrete on felony charges related to a fatal crash Saturday.

According to traffic homicide investigators, Navarrete was driving at an extremely high rate of speed on westbound Cortez Road approaching 43rd Street W. Saturday at approximately 10:40 p.m. He ran a red light and crashed into a Chevrolet Equinox, splitting the vehicle in half.

Sara-Danielle Holmes, 37, who was in the passenger seat of the Equinox, died in the crash.

Navarrete and a passenger in his vehicle, a Nissan Altima, were taken to the hospital for treatment. Navarrete showed signs of impairment and subsequent DUI investigation revealed a blood alcohol concentration of .289.

Cesar Navarrete faces the following charges:

• DUI murder, a second degree felony
• Driving while license suspended causing death or serious bodily injury, a third-degree felony

Navarrete, who remains hospitalized, was arrested Sunday on a Manatee County warrant for driving with a suspended license unrelated to the case.

Copyright 2024 WWSB. All rights reserved.