FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ She told investigators she wanted to kill herself by crashing her car into a truck or tree, but she hit an SUV instead causing the death of its passenger, the Broward Sheriff's Office said.
Tamera Leigh Prevo, 60, of Fort Lauderdale, is facing 16 charges that include DUI causing serious bodily injury, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and reckless driving, among others, records show.
According to the arrest report, Prevo demanded money from a man at his office about 2 p.m. May 19 and became upset when she saw a picture of his ex-wife on his desk. The report did not specify if Prevo and the man were in a relationship.
After trashing his desk and taking a bottle of vodka from the office, she got into her 2013 silver Hyundai Sonata and drove to her mother's home in Pompano Beach. Witnesses said she was visibly upset and driving erratically.
About 5:20 p.m. she left the Palm Aire Village community and drove along the 800 block of Cypress Boulevard. She was swerving left and right along the two-lane road and struck the driver's side of a white Toyota Rav4, causing it to flip onto its passenger side.
At the wheel of the Rav4 was a woman who was driving her husband home after he spent five days in the Cleveland Clinic hospital recuperating from heart bypass surgery.
They were trapped inside and her husband said he was afraid he would not make it home.
A witness who was fishing nearby went over to help the crash victims and he heard Prevo say, "I swerved to hit those people because I want to die." She explained she had been to rehab several times in the past and did not want to get arrested for DUI.
When deputies arrived at the scene of the collision, Prevo told them, "I meant to do it, I just want to die, I don't want to be here." Prevo also said she intended to kill herself by hitting a tree or big truck on Federal Highway but never made it that far. She also admitted to drinking the vodka and driving.
Prevo and the married couple _ whose names were not released by detectives _ were taken to Broward Health North medical center for treatment of their injuries.
The husband died at the hospital May 24. Prevo was arrested two days later. Fifteen additional charges were added Monday.
At her Tuesday court appearance, bond was set at $350,000 with conditions that included no driving.
