The autopsy finding will mean heightened criminal charges against 27-year-old Brigham Reed Clark in the April 19 wreck, which had not been investigated as a potential traffic fatality.
Autopsy results for Cheryl A. Browne released Tuesday will present a challenge to investigators who say an Indialantic man was impaired and texting when he caused a six-car pileup last month.
The finding will mean heightened criminal charges against 27-year-old Brigham Reed Clark in the April 19 wreck, which had not been investigated as a potential traffic fatality. The Florida Highway Patrol said Clark had been taking prescription drugs and was text messaging when his Ford F-150 slammed into the back of a Chrysler PT Cruiser, which was stopped at a red light on U.S. 192.
At the time, rescuers said the Chrysler's driver, 53-year-old Browne, was seriously hurt but that her injuries were not life-threatening. She died last week, however, of causes directly related to the accident, the Brevard County Medical Examiner ruled Tuesday.
By law, troopers could not forcibly draw blood from Clark because the crash didn't involve a serious injury, FHP said. At the time, however, a trooper told FLORIDA TODAY that Browne was taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center in "pretty serious condition" and that other victims' injuries were "miraculously" minor.
"We were told all the injuries were not serious, so we went forward with a routine investigation," said Sgt. Kim Montes, an FHP spokeswoman. "It's difficult, but there are other ways of proving intoxication.
"The clock is ticking now."
The initial impact started a domino effect just west of the Wickham Road intersection. Clark's pickup was traveling near the speed limit of 45 mph when it struck the Chrysler, pushing it 20 feet forward into four other vehicles. The wagon's back portion was entirely compacted into the front seats.
Seven people were hurt, and the uninjured Clark was arrested on charges of driving under the influence, DUI with injury or damage, and careless driving. He posted a $5,000 bond.
According to the crash report, Clark told troopers "he was texting on his cell phone while driving" and had taken medication for which he had a prescription. FHP Lt. Channing Taylor, who is trained in recognizing driver impairment, said Clark was clearly "messed up" and "nodding off" as he sat on his disabled pickup's tailgate after the crash.
Now, the FHP must conduct a complete traffic homicide investigation, which will include eyewitness accounts, statements from Clark himself and Taylor's expert opinion. If a toxicology test had been conducted, it could have detected only the presence of prescription drugs in Clark's blood and could not show any level of impairment.
"He was on some pretty serious medication," Taylor said at the scene, "and he probably shouldn't have been driving."
Family friends said Browne suffered a collapsed lung and had undergone rehabilitation. But the married mother of two daughters was at her Palm Bay home when she died early Friday morning. Investigators did not initially pinpoint the cause of death, saying only that it was a direct result of the crash.
Melbourne resident Dan Nolan, 51, was standing in a nearby parking lot when he saw Clark's pickup pass by. There was "no screeching, no braking, nothing" before the impact, he said.
"I ran over and checked (Clark) first. He was pretty groggy," Nolan said. "Then I saw her car. There were only 12 inches between her seat and the steering wheel. That's how far that truck crushed up that car.
"It was a sad sight."