PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — A Port St. Lucie man has been arrested months after a crash that killed a pedestrian riding a motorized scooter on SE Crosstown Parkway, police announced Friday.
The Port St. Lucie Police Department will hold a press conference at 1:30 p.m. It will be streamed live on this page.
According to the Port St. Lucie Police Department, 42-year-old Mark Swantic was taken into custody Feb. 25 and booked into the St. Lucie County Jail on charges of DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide in connection with the Oct. 31, 2025 crash.
Bonds were set at $75,000 and $100,000, respectively.
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Investigators say the crash happened around 5:45 a.m. at the intersection of SE Crosstown Parkway and SE Sandia Drive. A black 2021 Mercedes-Benz sedan driven by Swantic was traveling westbound when it entered the intersection and struck 49-year-old Victor Santiago, who was crossing on a Maxshot standing electric scooter.
Santiago died from his injuries.
According to the arrest affidavit, the dash camera video showed the traffic light turned red before the Mercedes entered the intersection.
Data from the vehicle’s event recorder indicated the car accelerated from 59 mph to 72 mph in the seconds before impact in a 45 mph zone, and braking occurred only at the moment of activation.
Police said a Drug Recognition Evaluation determined Swantic was under the influence of a central nervous system stimulant and a narcotic analgesic.
FDLE toxicology results later showed the presence of methadone, alprazolam, diazepam, and nordiazepam in his blood.
Investigators concluded there was probable cause that Swantic operated the vehicle recklessly and while impaired, causing Santiago’s death.
Chief Leo Niemczyk said the arrest followed a multi-month investigation into the fatal crash.