A couple on their way to a dinner date died after a suspected drunk driver crashed into their car and two other vehicles in Fort Lauderdale, police said.
The series of crashes happened late Friday at East Oakland Park Boulevard and North Federal Highway, authorities said.
Police on Sunday said Danielle Nichole Baldwin, 32, of Fort Lauderdale, had died of injuries sustained in the crash. She was a passenger in a green Nissan driven by her fiance, Sondroz Steven Olivert, 35, of Sunrise.
A black 2016 Kia heading west on East Oakland Park Boulevard rear-ended the Nissan driven by Olivert, who was stopped at the traffic light. The impact caused the Nissan to crash into a gray 2016 Chrysler, police said.
Olivert was pronounced dead at the hospital following the crash.
After barreling into the Nissan, the man driving the Kia struck two more vehicles. No one was seriously hurt in the subsequent crashes, police said.
Baldwin and Olivert were on their way to celebrate their anniversary, said Olivert’s sister, Thanya Olivert.
“They were actually planning their future this year,” she said. “They had just started getting to the point where they were content.”
Olivert, who was the oldest of four siblings, worked at Home Depot, his sister said. Baldwin worked at Sally’s Beauty Supply store and was an only child, Olivert said.
The couple loved the beach and hanging out in Fort Lauderdale, Thanya Olivert said.
Investigators have not identified the Kia’s driver, who took off from the scene following the multi-car crashes. He was later found and taken to Imperial Point Medical Center with injuries that were not life-threatening.
Investigators believe alcohol may have played a role in the crash and are treating the case as a DUI investigation. No charges had been filed Sunday night.
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