JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (CBS12) — A 17-year-old Jacksonville resident has been arrested and charged in connection with a March crash that killed a father and his two teenage sons after investigators say he was speeding, impaired and driving with a suspended learner’s permit.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced that Sidney Reshawn Harrell, 17, was arrested July 6 on an outstanding warrant after an officer stopped him for speeding during a traffic stop.

The charges stem from a March 1 crash on Atlantic Boulevard in the Empire Point area, according to the sheriff’s office.

According to investigators, Harrell was driving westbound on Atlantic Boulevard when he crossed the median into oncoming traffic, striking one vehicle head-on before crashing into a second vehicle.

Deputies say the first vehicle was then struck by another car and caught fire, trapping three occupants inside. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department personnel responded to the scene, but a 50-year-old man and his two sons, ages 13 and 14, were pronounced dead.

Three other people suffered serious injuries and were taken to local hospitals for treatment.

The Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit launched an investigation that included witness interviews, evidence collection and a review of surveillance footage and vehicle data.

Detectives determined Harrell did not have a valid driver’s license at the time of the crash. According to the Sheriff’s Office, he possessed only a learner’s permit that had been suspended in January 2026.

Investigators say surveillance video showed Harrell traveling at a high rate of speed before the collision. Data from the vehicle’s electronic data recorder indicated he was driving 98 mph and had the accelerator pressed to 100% in the seconds before impact.

See also: 62 removed, 7 trespassed, 1 arrested during Wellington teen takeover operation, PBSO says

A witness told investigators that Harrell appeared to be smoking a “blunt” while stopped at a red light and had been weaving through traffic before the crash. Authorities say toxicology testing later revealed a large amount of THC, the psychoactive component in marijuana, in Harrell’s system.

Harrell faces one count of driving while license suspended or revoked, three counts of vehicular homicide, three counts of DUI manslaughter and three counts of DUI causing injury.

In announcing the arrest, the Sheriff’s Office say the case serves as a reminder of the dangers of speeding, reckless driving and impaired driving.

One reckless decision can destroy multiple lives in an instant.”