WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A man accused of vehicular homicide in a wrong-way crash that killed a woman in August made his first appearance in court Saturday morning in West Palm Beach.
A judge ordered 27-year-old Thurman Smith to be held on a $130,000 bond. Smith is facing charges of vehicular manslaughter, DUI causing serious bodily harm and DUI property damage.
Police say Smith was driving the wrong direction on the 1900 block of North Congress Avenue on August 13, 2017 when he struck a Toyota Prius head-on, killing the passenger, 54-year-old Debbie LaSorte.
Both Smith and the driver of the Prius suffered serious injuries and were hospitalized in St. Mary's Medical Center.
Smith told detectives he passed out while driving after experiencing "severe stomach issues" due to medication he was taking.
Toxicology reports revealed he was under the influence of THC and Alprazolam at the time of the crash, which detectives said impaired his ability to drive.