Nurse Charged Months After Crash That Killed 3 Florida Deputies on Highway

A 31-year-old nurse has been arrested after fatally crashing her vehicle into three Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies, authorities said on May 1.

The incident, which occurred in November 2024, claimed the lives of Corporal Luis Paez Jr., Deputy Ignacio “Dan” Diaz, and Deputy Ralph “Butch” Waller. The accused, Corrinne Blue, has been charged with three counts of vehicular homicide.

According to an investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol, Blue was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee in an unsafe manner and well above the posted 55 mph speed limit before striking the deputies. They were stopped along State Road 80, about half a mile west of Lion Country Safari Road, with their motorcycles.

The deputies had pulled over while waiting for roadside assistance after one of their vehicles stopped working.

An eyewitness told police that Blue appeared to be “extremely tired.”

State Attorney Alexcia Cox said a thorough review of the evidence led to the charges.

“These charges follow a thorough review of the evidence and mark an important step in the pursuit of justice for the families of Corporal Paez, Deputy Diaz, and Deputy Waller,” she said in a statement on Facebook. “These deputies were serving this community when their lives were tragically taken by a reckless driver.”

Dave Kerner, executive director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, said, “We are thankful for the decision of State Attorney Alexcia Cox and her office in seeking and obtaining this felony warrant for arrest.”

“We now turn our attention to the judicial process, where a jury of the defendant’s peers will decide the ultimate outcome,” he added. “Regardless of the ultimate outcome, we remember Corporal Luis Paez, Deputy Sheriff Ralph ‘Butch’ Waller, and Deputy Sheriff Ignacio ‘Dan’ Diaz as heroes of our community. We recognize the pain and loss their families, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and the community at large have experienced.”

The Sheriff’s Office said the case will be prosecuted by the Traffic Homicide Unit of the State Attorney’s Office.

According to a warrant affidavit, Blue had allegedly worked her first shift in the emergency room at the Cleveland Clinic in Weston before the crash. She had previously worked in the hospital’s telemetry unit.

“Corrinne Blue’s cell phone data revealed that for the dates of 11/20/24 through 11/21/24, Corrinne Blue was awake for approximately 18 of the 24 hours preceding this crash,” the document obtained by People said.

After completing a 12-hour shift that was extended by an additional hour, Blue used her phone’s GPS to take the quickest route home. About 25 minutes before the crash, she reportedly stopped at a McDonald’s.

“The opinion of a human factors expert, which is detailed later in this affidavit, indicated that it is possible that the calorie-dense, high-fat, and high-carbohydrate content of the food purchased by Ms. Blue induced a state of postprandial fatigue, characterized by cognitive impairment or ‘brain fog,’ as Ms. Blue approached the crash scene,” the document said.

A toxicology report found no drugs or alcohol in her system.

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said the deputies’ service and sacrifice will not be forgotten.

“The announcement that the driver has been charged with three counts of Vehicular Homicide marks an important step in the judicial process,” Bradshaw said. “While no legal outcome can ever replace the lives lost or ease the pain felt by their families, loved ones, and our agency, we remain committed to seeing this case through the justice system.”

“This tragedy serves as a reminder of the very real and deadly consequences of distracted driving. We urge every driver to remain focused behind the wheel because one moment of inattention can change lives forever,” Bradshaw added.

“We continue to stand with the families of our fallen deputies and honor their legacy through our service each and every day.”