A woman facing two counts of DUI manslaughter was arraigned last week, just over a month after she was allegedly driving at over twice the legal blood alcohol limit and caused an accident that claimed the lives of two men.
Tiara Kirkland was arraigned on Tuesday, July 16, in the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Marion County. Kirkland is being defended by the public defender’s office.
During the arraignment, Kirkland was formally charged with two counts of DUI manslaughter .15 or above, according to court minutes filed with the county. Records show that she is scheduled for pretrial conference and jury selection in October.
According to the Ocala Police Department, the charges stem from a fatal accident that took place on June 12, 2024, at the intersection of N Pine Avenue and NW 20th Street in Ocala.
Kirkland was allegedly approaching the intersection of the roadway when she attempted to make a left turn onto NW 20th Street and crossed into the direct paths of two vehicles.
Although one of the vehicles managed to avoid Kirkland’s Chevrolet Spark, a Toyota Scion with two passengers was struck by the Spark.
After the impact, the Toyota overturned multiple times before crashing into several cars that were parked in a nearby lot.
One occupant in the vehicle, 22-year-old Ethan Reeves, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The other, 28-year-old Kedrick Johnson Serrano, succumbed to his injuries and died a few days later on June 16, 2024.
Last month, Kirkland was charged with the second count of DUI manslaughter after Serrano passed.
According to OPD, after the accident, an officer made contact with Kirkland and “smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage” on her breath. The arrest report stated that her eyes were bloodshot, and her speech was slurred.
After being read her Miranda rights, Kirkland claimed that when she was turning left at the intersection, she “never saw anyone” traveling northbound on Pine Avenue. When asked if she had consumed any alcoholic beverages, she advised that she had “one drink.”
OPD stated that Kirkland agreed to perform multiple field sobriety tests, which she failed. She also provided breath samples that registered blood alcohol content levels of .191 and .186, which is more than twice the legal limit.
Kirkland was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail, where she is currently being held without bond.
After Serrano’s passing, his friends and family shared an outpouring of love for the man.
“Auntie will always love you, never forget you. Love you so much. I know you’re with your dad’s mama and daddy,” reads a comment from Cheryl Ann G.
Reeves’ significant other, Luna Spaziano, has set up a GoFundMe to help with her late partner’s funeral expenses.
“Ethan Reeves was an amazing father and husband. He was loved by so many and will be missed forever,” reads a statement on the GoFundMe. “Ethan was such a hard worker, he only wanted the best for his family.”