A Florida woman with a checkered driving record is facing a slew of charges months after she crashed her Mercedes-Benz into a car carrying four people, killing one, before attempting unsuccessfully to flee because “her boyfriend told her to,” police say.
Beverly Yvonne Slaughter, 25, is charged with 14 counts, including vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of a fatal crash, and driving while suspended. The crash happened around 1 a.m. on April 29 at the intersection of West Sunrise Boulevard and NW 24th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, according to a probable cause arrest affidavit.
Slaughter was driving a 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class east on Sunrise, nearing 24th, at a “high rate of speed.” As she approached the intersection, a Nissan Altima had a green left turn signal light and was turning left. Slaughter’s Mercedes t-boned the Altima. Following the crash, video shows Slaughter allegedly fleeing her vehicle.
According to the affidavit, a Fort Lauderdale police officer arrived on the scene and saw Slaughter “walking extremely discreet” through the back parking lot of a McDonald’s. Police said the officer approached Slaughter and arrested her. When asked why she fled, Slaughter allegedly stated that “her boyfriend told her to run away,” police wrote.
The victims in the Altima, two of whom had serious injuries, were rushed to the hospital. One died on May 2 after being taken off life support.
Following Slaughter’s arrest on Wednesday, prosecutors argued in a bond motion that she should be held in custody due to her driving record. Her license was suspended in 2021, and she was convicted of driving without a license two years ago. In 2023, she was also arrested for DUI, fleeing or eluding a law enforcement officer, and reckless driving.
The prosecution argues that she demonstrated “disregard for the safety of the community” because “there are no conditions of release reasonably sufficient to protect the community from risk of physical harm to person.”
A judge agreed and ordered that she be held in the Broward County Jail without bond. Her next court date is set for Friday.
