Teenage driver pleads not guilty in Broward crash that killed 2

The teenage driver accused of being behind the wheel of a speeding Tesla that struck an SUV two weeks ago, killing its driver and a passenger, was ordered held without bond Wednesday after formally pleading not guilty to vehicular homicide charges.

At the time of the crash, Gavin Dorvil, 19, of Lauderdale Lakes, was already free on a $1,500 bond in an unrelated case from mid-July in which he was accused of stealing a gun and resisting the Davie police officers who arrested him.

Broward Circuit Judge Peter Holden revoked the bond in that case, which is a third-degree felony and is still pending.

Dorvil’s next court date was set for November 21.

Deputies were following Dorvil’s rented Tesla on Aug. 11, though initial reports in the case file don’t indicate why. The Tesla was traveling at speeds of up to 85 mph, which is 50 mph over the speed limit on Sistrunk Boulevard and surrounding streets in and near Fort Lauderdale, according to one arrest report.

Dorvil ran through a red light at Northwest 27th Avenue, where he crashed into a Dodge Durango driven by Lisa Jackson. Jackson and one of her passengers, Geraldine Francis, were pronounced dead. Both victims are from Bermuda. Their ages were not included in the police reports. A third victim, a minor girl with the same last name as the driver, was critically injured but is expected to survive.

In addition to vehicular homicide, Dorvil is now facing charges of aggressive fleeing and eluding as well as reckless driving causing serious bodily injury.

The crash involved another vehicle, a 2024 Chevrolet Trax, which rolled over, injuring its driver.

Dorvil did not speak during Wednesday’s hearing. His not guilty plea came in writing on Tuesday.

Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457. Follow him on Threads.net @rafael.olmeda .