PBSO: Truck’s speed was ‘high’ in fatal crash
Dodge Ram 1500 hit victim’s Ford Focus at intersection May 7.
WEST PALM BEACH — Riviera Beach firefighter Bradley Gardner was driving “at a high rate of speed” when his truck crashed into Natalie Galvis’ Ford Focus early May 7, killing the 23-yearold mother, Palm Beach County sheriff ’s investigators said.
A glassy-, bloodshot-eyed Gardner told investigators he drank a beer before speeding through the suburban West Palm Beach intersection at about 3 that morning. Sheriff ’s authorities said Gardner, 27, of Royal Palm Beach, smelled of alcohol.
Authorities are investigating Gardner on DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide charges, according to court records.
As of Thursday, Gardner has not been charged with any offense related to the crash. The results of a blood-alcohol test he agreed to take after the wreck were not included in a May 8 search warrant filed by investigators.
The warrant was for data recorded in Gardner’s 2012 Dodge Ram 1500. That data will give investigators insight into whether Gardner braked before the collision, how fast he was traveling and whether his speed had been consistent.
A witness estimated Gardner
was driving 80 mph when his truck entered the intersection of Belvedere Road and Military Trail and collided with Galvis’ car, sheriff ’s records state.
Gardner, a state-certified firefighter since August 2014, was hired by Riviera Beach Fire Rescue in January. He was not on duty at the time of the wreck, city authorities said. His last shift before the early Monday crash was Friday, records show.
Gardner has not been placed on leave following the crash, Riviera Beach authorities said. He sustained only minor injuries in the wreck.
Gardner did not respond to The Post’s repeated requests for comment.
The Sheriff ’s Office said its investigation is still active, and that it’s looking into which vehicle ran the red light. Fatal-crash investigations often take months to complete.
Gardner told investigators he had one beer before he got behind the wheel of the pickup and headed south on Military Trail. Records do not indicate when he reportedly drank the beer.
Gardner’s truck slammed into the passenger side of Gal- vis’ car, which was heading west on Belvedere, according to sheriff ’s records. The car spun, hit a crosswalk pole and stopped in the bushes outside a BP gas station on the intersection’s southwest corner.
Gardner’s pickup crashed into a wooden Florida Power & Light pole and landed on its side.
Both drivers were alone in their cars, records state. Only Gardner was wearing a seat belt. They were taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center, where Galvis was pronounced dead.
Both Gardner and Galvis were heading home when they crashed, records state.
Galvis was about a block from the Haverhill home she shared with Richard Canfield III, with whom she had a 2-year-old daughter.