Florida Man Charged With DUI Manslaughter

Investigators today charged a Jacksonville man with DUI manslaughter and two other crimes in the Jan. 14 wrong-way, head-on crash that killed St. Johns County Deputy James Anderson Jr.

Kris Caudilla, 26, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.158 — nearly twice the state’s threshold for drunk driving — when the accident occurred on Florida 9A in Jacksonville, according to Lt. Bill Leeper, a spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol.

An arrest warrant was served on Caudilla this morning while he continues to recover at Shands Jacksonville hospital. The warrant also charged him with vehicular homicide and DUI causing property damage, Leeper said.

The blood-alcohol level was determined from a blood draw made of Caudilla just after the crash, Leeper said. Caudilla will be taken to the Duval County jail after he is released from the hospital.

Anderson, 44, died shortly after the 3:30 a.m. crash just south of Baymeadows Road. He  was driving his patrol car to work south on 9A when Caudilla’s northbound sport utility vehicle hit him head-on.

An off-duty Jacksonville Beach police officer driving his personal car said Caudilla’s SUV passed him on 9A going the wrong way at a high rate of speed moments before the crash. The officer swerved off the road and reported the incident to the Highway Patrol, but didn’t know about the accident until later.

Anderson was able to call his wife’s phone while still trapped in his car. He was airlifted to Shands, where he died a few hours later. The former Marine and father of four was buried a week later with full honors following a processional that stretched more than 3 miles.

Anderson’s family said they hope Caudilla is appropriately punished. If convicted, he faces 15 years each on the DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide charges and one year on the property damage count.

“I really would like for him to receive the punishment that is deserved,” said Clover Simpkins, 54, Anderson’s sister-in-law. “It won’t bring my brother-in-law back, but he really needs to know what it’s like.”

Caudilla’s father expressed his sorrow for the loss during a recent interview with the Times-Union. Caudilla has been unavailable to comment. Court records show he has been cited for several traffic violations since 2001, including twice for speeding.
Anderson served as a Marine for 20 years and then worked as a deputy in Putnam and St. Johns County. He loved spending time with his family, his five dogs and golfing, family members said.

St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar said he hopes Anderson’s family can find some closure. Shoar also said he can’t understand the necessity for people to drive drunk.

“It’s hard to fathom in this day and age with all the awareness, with all the notoriety, that we still have people who drink and drive,” Shoar said.

Leeper called the crash and the cause tragic for all involved.

“Alcohol destroys many lives every day and unfortunately two lives have been destroyed in this case: one who died and the other one who has to live with the fact that their actions killed someone else,” Leeper said.

We have the experience and understanding to represent you if you have been charged with an alcohol related offense in Florida. We are equipped to handle your criminal hearing as well as the formal administrative review hearing regarding the retention of your driving privileges.

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