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Any fatal car crash is an avoidable tragedy. But it’s especially tragic, even infuriating, when the circumstances include factors like drunk driving and triple-digit speeds. Worse yet, in this case, the offender in the DUI crash and killing of two people was none other than an ex-cop. Now, the families of the deceased are imploring the drunk driver and former cop to show up and face the music after he failed to show up to the trial. 

The family of two deceased motorists wants justice after an ex-cop killed them in a DUI crash and fled before his trial

36-year-old Joshua Roelofs was driving at over 100 mph when he slammed into a Kia Sorento on the Courtney Campbell Causeway near Tampa Bay, Florida. The car Roelofs struck had four occupants, including Ricky Gongora and Kris Koroly.

The impact flipped the Sorento, killing Gongora and Koroly right there on the causeway. The other passengers were grievously injured. As if the speed were in any way forgivable, Roelofs was also drunk when he crashed into the car.

To make things even worse, Roelofs is a former sheriff’s deputy with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, which caters to an area southwest of Orlando. According to Fox 13 Tampa Bay, PCSO arrested and terminated Roelofs 10 years ago for “falsifying his timecard.” 

Needless to say, the family is at the end of their patience following three years of waiting for justice. Gongora’s father, George Negrete, expressed strong feelings about Roelof’s ability to walk out a free man while awaiting trial.

“It’s just a mix of emotions, just disgusted at the system that he was even out on bail for a little more than $4,000 to think that he was out being a free man after having taken two lives,” Negrete said.

Negrete also had some choice words for the missing ex-cop. “Turn yourself in. Be a man. You committed a crime of grave injustice, and you should have to answer for this,” Negrete said to the absent defendant. With any luck, the families will get their justice.