SB 10 — Relief of Julia Perez by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office

Florida Senate - 2024 (NP) CS for SB 10 By Senator Bradley 6-00088-24 202410__ A bill to be entitled An act for the reliefCommittee ofon JuliaJudiciary; Perez by the St.

and Senator Bradley 590-02906-24 202410c1 A bill to be entitled An act for the relief of Julia Perez by the St.

on April 7, 2019, Julia Perez,Perez thenwas 51wearing yearsa ofhelmet age, and her companion, Tom Eiland, then 59 years of age, were both wearing helmets and lawfully operating separatea motorcyclesmotorcycle within the posted speed limit, traveling east on State Road 16 in the correct travel lane in unincorporated St.

Johns County, and WHEREAS, at the same time, Deputyan Brandon Hetzler, then 28 years of age, a newly sworn employee of the St.

Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJSO), acting in the course and scope of his employment, was operating a marked SJSO patrol vehiclevehicle, and traveling west on State Road 1616, in the left turn lane at the intersection of State Road 16 and Harvest Lane, and WHEREAS, the afternoonSJSO skyemployee wasnegligently clear, the road was dry, and there were no obstructions when Deputy Hetzler suddenly entered the intersection of State Road 16 and Harvest Lane and attempted a left turn directly in front of boththe motorcyclesmotorcycle operated by Ms.

PerezPerez, and Mr.WHEREAS, Ms.

Eiland,Perez’s andmotorcycle WHEREAS,struck the front right side of Deputythe Hetzler’sSJSO vehiclevehicle, causing her to eject from her motorcycle and impact the hood of the patrol car before she came to rest on the pavement of State Road 16, and WHEREAS, the Florida Highway Patrol’s traffic crash investigators conducted an extensive crash investigation of the Page 1 of 65 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2024 (NP) CS for SB 10 6-00088-24590-02906-24 202410__202410c1 collidedaccident, withincluding thepreparation frontfor ofa traffic homicide reconstruction due to Ms.

Perez’s motorcycle,grave ejectingcondition, and WHEREAS, witnesses on the scene told investigators that, at the time of the crash, eastbound traffic had a steady green signal, giving Ms.

Perez from her motorcycle, with her making contact with the hoodright of theway, patrol car and being propelled over the roof, striking the trunk before she landed on the pavement of State Road 16, and WHEREAS, the frontinvestigation rightdetermined sidethat of Deputy Hetzler’s vehicle collided with the leftactions side of Mr.Ms.

Eiland’sPerez motorcycle,were ejectingreasonable Mr.and did not contribute to or cause the collision, and WHEREAS, the Florida Highway Patrol investigation found the SJSO employee to be solely at fault for causing the accident and issued him a traffic citation for failure to yield to oncoming traffic in violation of s.

Eiland316.122, fromFlorida hisStatutes, motorcycleto andwhich ontohe thepled pavement,no contest, and WHEREAS, the FloridaSt. Highway Patrol’s traffic crash investigators conducted an extensive investigation of the accident, which included preparation for a traffic homicide reconstruction due to Ms.

Perez’sJohns graveCounty condition,Sheriff’s andOffice WHEREAS,has witnessesadmitted onits theemployee scenewas toldnegligent investigatorsin thatcausing at the timecollision of the crash, the eastbound traffic had a steady green signal and thatliable for Ms.

Perez and Mr.

Eiland had the right of way, and WHEREAS, the investigation revealed that Deputy Hetzler had overheard a service call and was responding to it, but he did not activate his siren or emergency lights, and WHEREAS, the investigation determined that the actions of Ms.

Perez and Mr.

Eiland were reasonable and did not contribute to or cause the collisions, and WHEREAS, the Florida Highway Patrol investigation found Deputy Hetzler to be solely at fault in the accident and issued him a traffic citation for failure to yield to oncoming traffic in violation of s.

316.122, Florida Statutes, and WHEREAS, SJSO policy 61.16 states, “It shall be the responsibility of each employee to operate agency vehicles efficiently, maintain the vehicle, and drive the vehicle in Page 2 of 6 CODING:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2024 (NP) SB 10 6-00088-24 202410__ observance of all rules of the road in order to reduce the likelihood of traffic crashes or injury,” and WHEREAS, SJSO policy 61.16 also states, “All crashes and incidents involving agency vehicle damage shall be reviewed by the Traffic Crash Review Board within thirty days of the crash,” and WHEREAS, the SJSO Traffic Crash Review Board found Deputy Hetzler to be at fault for causing the crash and injuries, and WHEREAS, Deputy Hetzler’s negligence was the sole cause of the collisions, and WHEREAS, the St.

Johns County Sheriff’s Office admitted negligence for causing the collision and liability for Ms.

Perez suffered multiplecatastrophic openinjuries, andwas comminutedintubated fracturesand ofresuscitated at the pelvis,crash arms,site andby legs,local asemergency wellmedical asservices, organand lacerationswas andrushed punctures,to includingthe aTrauma puncturedCenter leftat lung,Memorial resultingHospital inJacksonville, cardiopulmonarywhere arrestshe duearrived comatose and had to undergo a series of blood loss,transfusions, and WHEREAS, Ms.

Perez wassuffered foundmultiple unresponsiveopen atand thecomminuted scenefractures of the accidentpelvis, arms, and hadlegs, as well as organ lacerations and punctures, including a punctured left lung, resulting in cardiopulmonary arrest due to beblood resuscitatedloss, onand thenumerous streetcomplications, byincluding firsta responderspulmonary beforeembolism, St.deep vein thrombosis, and episodes of pneumonia;

Johns County Fire Rescue arrived to assume rescue efforts, and WHEREAS, Ms.

Perez was intubated in the field and rushed to the Trauma Center at Memorial Hospital Jacksonville, arriving comatose and undergoing a series of blood transfusions, and WHEREAS, Ms.

Perez spent 3 months on a ventilator and feeding tube;

battled a pulmonary embolism, a deep vein thrombosis, and episodes of pneumonia;

and endured multiple systemic infections, bowel obstructions, a fractured arm, and a nicked Page 32 of 65 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2024 (NP) CS for SB 10 6-00088-24590-02906-24 202410__202410c1 artery, and WHEREAS, Ms.

Perez wasremained unconscioushospitalized forand 3was monthsin anda bedriddennursing home for 7almost months,8 resultingmonths infollowing twothe painfulcrash, pressure sores, and WHEREAS, inbecause Julyof 2019,blood aloss nurseand reinjuredinfection, Ms.

Perez’sPerez fracturedsuffered armrenal whiletubular turningnecrosis and a kidney injury, which necessitated her to preventreceive pressurekidney sores,dialysis for many months and WHEREAS,made it possible that she will need further kidney treatment in Augustthe 2019,future, and WHEREAS, Ms.

Perez’sPerez bladdersuffers wasfrom inadvertentlysubstantial nickedpain duringwhen atrying surgery to insertaccomplish asimple platetasks intoof herdaily pelvis,living causingand internalexperiences bleedinginterrupted andsleep necessitatingon a repairnightly surgery,basis, chronic migraine headaches, and severe elevated blood pressure, and WHEREAS, Ms.

Perez remainedsuffers hospitalizedfrom andmemory wasloss, inconfusion, acommunication nursingdifficulties, homefatigue, forfrustration, almostand 8depression, monthsand followingshe theis crash,under andthe WHEREAS,treatment beingof bedriddena neurologist, and immobileWHEREAS, have caused Ms.

Perez tohas sufferundergone boweldozens obstructions,of leadingsurgeries to multiple emergency care visits, and WHEREAS,faces becausemany ofmore, blood loss and infection,WHEREAS, Ms.

PerezPerez’s haspast sufferedmedical renalbills tubularattributable necrosisto the crash and permanentrelated kidneyliens injury,amount to more than $3,863,108.09, and WHEREAS, Mr.the costs of Ms.

EilandPerez’s hasfuture transportedmedical care and related expenses are estimated to be as much as $4,077,923.57 over the course of Ms.

PerezPerez’s to Jacksonville three times per week for kidney dialysis because she is in chronic, end-stage kidney failure, meaning she will likely either be placed on a kidney donor list as a transplant candidate or be on dialysis for the rest of her life, and WHEREAS, Ms.

Perez suffershas frombeen incontinencedeclared and,to duebe tototally and permanently disabled by her dialysisphysicians, catheter,and her loss of earning capacity is unableestimated to showerbe or$282,110, bathe,based andon insteadher reliesfull onSocial aSecurity processretirement age of cleaning67 herselfand witha wetminimum-wage towelettes,earning whichcapacity, typicallyand takesWHEREAS, ana hourlawsuit orwas longerfiled toon complete,behalf andof WHEREAS, Ms.

Perez suffersand fromwas substantialset painfor whentrial tryingin tothe accomplishCircuit simpleCourt tasks of dailythe livingSeventh andJudicial experiencesPage interrupted3 sleepof on5 aCODING: nightly basis, and WHEREAS, Ms.