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Man charged with DUI, vehicular homicide in fatal Port St. Lucie crash

Posted at 2:42 PM, Feb 22, 2018
and last updated 2018-02-23 04:43:17-05

A 22-year old Port St. Lucie man is charged with DUI-vehicular homicide following a crash that killed a 23-year old Port St. Lucie woman.

At 2:17 a.m. on January 20, 2018, Charles Moreno was traveling west in the 600 block of SW Port St. Lucie Boulevard in a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe.

At the same time, Alexis Etheridge was making a right turn onto SW Port St. Lucie Boulevard from SW Del Rio. As Etheridge was making the turn, she was "t-boned" by Moreno's vehicle.

Etheridge was pronounced dead at the scene by fire rescue crews.

Police say Moreno was unresponsive on scene and transported to Lawnwood Medical Center with a head injury.

Initial investigation and roadway evidence suggested that Moreno was traveling at a high rate of speed. The investigation revealed that Moreno had a blood alcohol level of .17, which is over twice the legal limit.

The investigation also revealed that Etheridge's blood alcohol level exceeded the legal limit. The exact level was not specified and will be released in a future report by the medical examiner.