DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — Delray Beach police say a man was going 109 miles per hour right before he caused a deadly wreck in December.
According to police, 37-year-old James Avirett sideswiped a Delray Beach police officer's patrol car on Congress Avenue around 8:25 p.m. on Dec. 22.
The officer was not hurt.
Police said Avirett then took off in his Jeep Grand Cherokee, ran a red light, and slammed into a Fiat at Congress Avenue and SW 29th Street.
The impact sent Avirett's Jeep onto the sidewalk where he hit his girlfriend, 41-year-old Dara Treechatinant, and then a power pole.
Police said it's unclear why Treechatinant was standing on the sidewalk, although she may have been on the phone with Avirett at the time, according to investigators.
Treechatinant was taken to Delray Medical Center, where she died days later on Christmas.
The driver of the Fiat, 77-year-old Michael Fogg, was also taken to Delray Medical Center, where he's been in Intensive Care ever since.
Traffic homicide investigators have determined Avirett was going 109 miles per hour right before hitting the Fiat.
Avirett is now facing additional charges of vehicular homicide, reckless driving causing serious bodily injury, as well as a citation for going 109 in a 45 mile per hour zone.
Those charges have been added to previous charges Avirett was facing of leaving the scene of a crash and driving with a suspended license.