Man receives prison term after high-speed crash kills Mini Cooper driver near Delray Beach

DELRAY BEACH — A judge has sentenced a 35-year-old Central Florida man to 13 years in state prison for causing a fatal crash on western Atlantic Avenue while attempting to flee at high speed from a traffic stop during Labor Day weekend in 2022.

Theo James of Wildwood was charged with vehicular homicide, fleeing or eluding police resulting in serious injury or death, driving with a suspended license causing serious injury or death and resisting without violence in Palm Beach County Circuit Court , according to documents. Circuit Judge Sherri L. Collins handed down James' sentence during a plea conference hearing Monday.

According to a Florida Highway Patrol arrest report, the fatal crash happened at about 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 4, 2022. James, driving a Nissan Maxima, ran a red light at Atlantic and East Tranquility Lake Drive in suburban Delray Beach and then crashed into a Mini Cooper Clubman as it tried to make a left turn, investigators said.

The driver of the Mini Cooper died at the scene. FHP did not identify the driver.

James was driving the Maxima south on Florida's Turnpike when a trooper recorded the vehicle traveling at 107 mph in a 65 mph zone, the FHP report said. The trooper attempted to pull James over but he fled, exiting the turnpike and driving east on Atlantic, the report said.

James then approached the intersection dividing the turnpike's northbound entrance and East Tranquility Lake and ran a red light, crashing into the Mini Cooper as it turned onto East Tranquility Lake from westbound Atlantic, the report said.

The trooper, according to the report, followed James down the turnpike and witnessed the crash, checking both vehicles afterward and seeing no signs of life from the Mini Cooper's driver. The trooper then noticed James reaching for something under his seat, the report said.

The trooper ordered James to stop reaching and to show his hands before removing James from the vehicle, the report said. James then tried to flee on foot but the trooper apprehended him.

James and the two passengers in his vehicle received care at Delray Medical Center, the report said.

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Julius Whigham II contributed to this report.

Jasmine Fernández is a journalist covering Delray Beach and Boca Raton for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at jfernandez@pbpost.com and follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @jasminefernandz . Help support our work. Subscribe today .

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Man receives prison term after high-speed crash kills Mini Cooper driver near Delray Beach