Summary: A Florida attorney is accused of striking a woman with his car while driving under the influence, then leaving the scene where the woman later died.
A Miami Lakes area attorney is accused of hitting a pedestrian with his car and then fleeing the scene. New surveillance footage obtained by NBC Miami show the suspect and victim moments before the fatal crash happened in December.
The suspect, 65-year-old Marcos Gonzalez-Balboa is seen in the footage leaving a parking garage in Coral Gables around midnight on December 6. He is seen parked at the parking garage’s exit for over five minutes until another driver approached him to point him in the direction of the pay station. Gonzalez-Balboa spent another five minutes at the pay station before he was able to successfully pay for his parking. The attorney then gets back into his silver Mercedes and leaves the parking garage.
Additional surveillance footage from a McDonalds in Miami Lakes shows the victim, 26-year-old Tatum Holloway from Michigan, ordering food from the drive-thru.
Just minutes after Holloway ordered her food, in the early hours of December 7, she was struck by a car while crossing Fairway Drive. The driver of the car fled the scene. Miami-Dade Police allege that the driver of the car was Gonzalez-Balboa.
By March, investigators had enough evidence to arrest Gonzalez-Balboa for vehicular homicide, manslaughter, driving under the influence, failure to render aid, and leaving the scene of a crash. The attorney has been accused of DUI three times before.
Some of the evidence included a receipt from Bulla Gastrobar in Coral Gables from the night of December 6 which showed the attorney spent nearly $300 on drinks. Gonzalez-Balboa also took steps to hide his conduct by replacing the damaged windshield of his car.
Gonzalez-Balboa claims he is innocent. In a statement, his attorney Madeline Acosta said they are reviewing the evidence that has been provided to him.
Do you think driving under the influence should be an automatic disbarment or suspension for an attorney? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
To learn more about other drunk attorneys, read these articles:
- Drunk Judge Sucker Punched Legal Aid Attorney
- Hollywood City Attorney Caught Driving While Drunk
- Topeka Attorney Justin K. Holstin Disbarred for Being Drunk during Hearing
Video: NBC Miami
Photo: miamiherald.com