MARIANNA – Three Life sentences were given to a man who killed two people while driving under the influence less than 2 years after getting a DUI in Georgia, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
David Wayne Weddle, 60, was found guilty of two counts of DUI-Manslaughter and one count of DUI with Serious Bodily Injury March 20. Circuit Court Judge Ana Maria Garcia ordered that the Life sentences be served consecutively, or one after the other.
“This defendant did not take responsibility for his actions and repeatedly made choices – drinking more than a 12-pack daily by his own admission – that put the public in danger,” said Assistant Chief 14th Judicial Circuit Prosecutor Mark Graham.
“His actions killed two innocent women, and seriously injured a third victim, who should not have had to worry about someone running a stop sign without even attempting to stop and plowing into their car.
“This sentence sends a strong message about the dangers and repercussions of driving under the influence and puts this defendant where he belongs – in prison for the rest of his life.”
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During the trial, Graham presented witnesses and testimony proving the defendant was driving south on El Bethel Church Road toward Hwy. 90 around 2 p.m. on Sept. 5, 2021. The victims were westbound on Hwy. 90 in a Cadillac approaching the intersection. A third vehicle, a Jeep, was eastbound on Hwy. 90 approaching the intersection.
Witnesses and Florida Highway Patrol Trooper L. Battle said Weddle ran the stop sign and struck the passenger’s side of the Cadillac hard enough to push it into eastbound lane, where it hit the Jeep. The impact killed both women in the Cadillac. The Jeep caught fire. Its driver, who had two broken legs, escaped but collapsed.
An expert testified blood drawn about 2 hours after the crash showed his BAC was somewhere between .11 and .15 at the time of the crash. The defendant testified he had no memory of the wreck.
Basford thanked the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement for their work on the case.
For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mailto:mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.