Troopers: Man accused of killing two teenagers in car crash arrested

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Louis Prinzo IV, 23, who was accused of killing two teenagers in a car crash more than a year ago, was arrested Monday.

State troopers said the suspect was high on drugs when he hit and killed the victims on Interstate 95 in Daytona Beach.

State troopers had to go through a lengthy process of a subpoena for blood samples and blood tests, causing it to take over a year to arrest Prinzo.

One victim's family said that it didn't frustrate them and they forgive the man responsible for their son's death.

Prinzo's family tried to get some leniency from a judge during his first appearance in court.

"My husband just had a stroke and I am in poor health. My son supports us," said the suspect's mother.

Prinzo was charged with several DUI felonies including two counts of DUI manslaughter for the deaths of 19-year-old Lane Burnsed and 17-year-old Meredith Smith.

The crash happened on I-95 southbound just north of LPGA Boulevard.

Prinzo pulled over into an emergency lane,
and then veered back onto the interstate in front of the truck Brunsed, Smith and another passenger were in, causing the truck to roll over.

According to the crash report, Smith was not wearing a seat belt.

At the time, troopers say Prinzo had an empty syringe and a twisted straw with an unknown substance in it. He admitted to smoking marijuana and snorting some "white stuff."

They later determined, through two different blood tests, that he was impaired by prescription drugs. Troopers say those are the tests that took the investigation so long.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Burnsed family said, "We are not angry or bitter and our heart goes out to Louis Prinzo and his family. We can only imagine the hurt and stress that they are going through. Almost anyone could end up in the same situation be it not for the grace of God."

In that statement, the family described Lane as fun-loving and generous. WFTV was unable to get in touch with Smith's family.

WFTV