COOPER CITY, Fla. – Ivan Jared Billie Jr. was accused of driving a 2023 Chevrolet Camaro — while drunk and speeding at nearly 200 mph — eastbound on Sheridan Street before crashing into a tree and killing his passenger on Saturday in Broward County.
Billie, 25, was walking around after the crash in Cooper City, and he allegedly told police officers that he was a member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, as if to imply that they had no jurisdiction over him, according to prosecutors.
Billie allegedly kept changing his story when talking to police officers. He appeared in bond court on Sunday after surviving the crash that split the Chevrolet Camaro in half along Sheridan Street, near Solano Avenue.
Prosecutors said Billie’s blood alcohol level was nearly .24% — about three times Florida’s legal limit of .08%. Records show he was at the main jail in Fort Lauderdale.
Billie is facing six charges: Vehicular homicide, DUI causing death, two counts of DUI with damage to property or a person, and two counts of reckless driving with damage to property or a person.
Records show the bond court judge denied him bail on the vehicular homicide and DUI causing death charges. He set his bond at $60,000, including $15,000 each for the other four charges.
According to Claudinne Caro, a spokeswoman for the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the passenger died at the scene.
“The westbound and eastbound lanes of Sheridan Street between Pine Island Road and University Drive are expected to be shut down for several hours due to the traffic crash investigation,” Caro wrote in a statement Saturday morning.
The victim was identified Monday as Justice Fielder. Authorities did not release any further details about him, citing Marsy’s Law.
BSO deputies, Pembroke Pines police officers, fire rescue personnel, and the Broward County’s Office of Medical Examiner and Trauma Services personnel responded the scene over the weekend.
A bumper and other car parts were on the street. There were tire marks on the road. Pembroke Pines police officers blocked access to the area and asked drivers to avoid it. BSO deputies investigated the crash.
Detectives asked anyone with information about this or other cases to call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.
Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Joyce Grace Ortega and Mercedes Cevallos contributed to this report.
Related social media
ATTENTION DRIVERS: Officers are on scene with a traffic crash at Sheridan St / N University Dr, Sheridan Street is shutdown between University Dr & Douglas Road. Please seek an alternate route until the roadway is cleared. University Dr NB & SB Lanes are open, thank you. pic.twitter.com/EGSWwYd18m
— Pembroke Pines PD (@PPinesPD) July 6, 2024