Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition

Bond set in fatal crash

Teen accused of vehicular homicide with a stolen BMW gets $175,000 bond

- By Mike Clary

A Broward judge set a bond of $175,000 Sunday for a teen accused of causing a fatal hit-and-run crash in Coral Springs while celebratin­g his 18th birthday with a predawn joyride in a stolen BMW.

Gregory Holt is charged with failing to stop at an accident involving death; vehicular homicide and failure to render aid; and driving without a license causing death in connection with the Sept. 25 crash that killed Charlie Ruiz, 39, of Coral Springs, according to police.

Holt allegedly stole the car from a home in Coconut Creek that was being rented through Airbnb for a party that was attended by 100 to 150 people, according to prosecutor­s.

A passenger riding with Holt in the BMW told investigat­ors Holt was “using his cellphone and not paying attention to the road” when the car struck Ruiz’s Mitsubishi SUV, according to a search warrant obtained by the Sun Sentinel.

“The facts of the case are egregious, resulting in the death of an innocent individual,” said prosecutor Michael Horowitz in asking for a bond of at least $250,000.

In setting a bond less than the prosecutor’s recommenda­tion, Broward Judge Daniel J. Kanner added the conditions that if Holt is freed on bond, he wear a GPS monitor, surrender his passport and refrain from alcohol and drug use.

“He hasn’t taken responsibi­lity, clearly, for very much,” said Kanner.

Holt was released from jail earlier this month on a $1,000 bond, but was again jailed Friday on new charges, including vehicular homicide. He had made arrangemen­ts to turn himself in at 5:30 p.m. Friday, but was picked up by police when he did not show up as scheduled.

According to police, Holt was speeding down State Road 7 and lost control of the car when he tried turning onto West Sample Road. The impact caused both cars to roll several times over multiple lanes of West Sample Road, with the SUV landing upright and the BMW coming to a stop upside down.

Holt crawled out of the car, which was totaled, and ran to a nearby apartment complex. He borrowed a phone, logged into his Instagram and Snapchat accounts and called for a cab to pick him up, according to the arrest report. He left the area and never called for help, authoritie­s said.

Ruiz was taken to Broward Health North, where he died. He had been driving home from work when his vehicle was hit.

In court Sunday, Horowitz said that, while driving, Holt had been smoking marijuana, drinking alcohol, texting and “not paying attention” when the crash occurred. Following the crash, Holt “got back to his house, and later on went on to another party later that evening.”

Horowitz also mentioned Holt’s juvenile record that includes arrests for attempted burglary, possession of cannabis, lewd and lascivious behavior on a child over 12 and under 16, and battery causing injury to a police dog.

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