PANAMA CITY — A 19-year-old Panama City man who was arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter has been released after a night in jail, according to Bay County court documents.
Brent A. Taylor, 19, was released Monday on a $50,000 bond after being arrested early Sunday morning on charges of DUI manslaughter. Taylor was placed on a pretrial release program under the stipulation he submit to random urinalysis and restrictions under the program for his role in the crash that left a Southport man dead, officials reported.
Taylor continued driving north of Spikes Road on State 77 for about 350 yards at 7:11 a.m. before pulling off the road, according to Florida Highway Patrol reports. He told officers he didn’t know if he had hit something or what but heard a noise coming from his 2004 Toyota Sequoia and pulled over, FHP reported.
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A moderate odor of alcohol emanated from Taylor’s breath, the officer wrote.
Moments earlier, 33-year-old James E. Thorndyke had dismounted his 2008 Harley Davidson Road King and was standing on the roadside. The cause for Thorndyke’s break along State 77 was unclear from official reports.
However, FHP officers said Taylor veered onto the shoulder by about six inches and hit Thorndyke, launching him onto the grass shoulder. Emergency personnel pronounced Thorndyke dead at the scene.
Taylor performed a series of field sobriety tests on the scene. Officers reported that he consistently failed each but cited a knee injury as an irritant on some. Test results to determine Taylor’s blood-alcohol concentration were pending Tuesday.
Taylor was arrested Sunday at 8:59 a.m. His next court date is scheduled for Jan. 26.