A Florida woman charged with DUI manslaughter texted her boyfriend prior to the fatal crash, writing “Driving drunk woo” and “I’ll be dead thanks to you” only moments before the accident, the Miami Herald reports. However, 22-year-old Mila Dago survived, but the passenger in her car, 22-year-old Irina Reinoso, wasn’t so lucky.
- Prosecutors discovered the texts following the accident. They released the evidence to the public, revealing that while Dago was behind the wheel of a rented Smart Car, she sent her boyfriend several messages before running a red light and t-boning a truck driven by 51-year-old Benjamin Byrum. One of the messages read: “I’m done. You ruined me. You’ll be the death of me.”
- Dago and her boyfriend were in the midst of a breakup. To try and deal with the angst surrounding the relationship, Dago and her friends went bar-hopping and she angrily texted him throughout the night. However, only three minutes after sending the last text, Dago crashed her car into Byrum’s truck.
- Her blood alcohol was more than twice the legal limit. After taking a blood test, it was discovered that Dago’s blood alcohol level was .178, and that was two hours after the crash.
- Dago pleaded not guilty. She was charged with DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, and two counts of DUI with damage to a person. However, she pleaded not guilty to all charges against her.
- She eventually reached a plea deal with prosecutors. Dago, 24 at the time of sentencing, eventually pleaded guilty to one count of DUI manslaughter. She was sentenced to four years in prison as well as 10 years of probation, during which she’ll have to perform community service. She was banned from driving for life. Many believe she got off easy as she faced a maximum of 17 years in prison had she gone to trial and been found guilty.
