LARGO, Fla. — A devastating crash early Sunday morning in Largo has left one young man dead and another facing serious criminal charges. According to the Largo Police Department (LPD), 21-year-old Arael Vaquero has been arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter following a single-vehicle collision that claimed the life of his passenger, 18-year-old David Salazar-Castillo.
Police say the deadly crash happened along 58th Street North, where Vaquero was driving southbound at a high rate of speed. Preliminary findings indicate that the vehicle left the roadway and struck two fixed objects before coming to rest. Authorities have not disclosed what those objects were, but the impact was described as violent and catastrophic, leaving the vehicle heavily damaged and the passenger fatally injured.
When first responders arrived, they found Salazar-Castillo critically wounded inside the wrecked vehicle. Despite immediate lifesaving measures by Largo Fire Rescue, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Vaquero, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries, was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment before being placed under arrest.
Following the crash, investigators determined that Vaquero was under the influence at the time of the incident. While the exact results of his toxicology tests have not been released, police confirmed that impairment was a factor in the deadly crash. The case remains under active investigation by LPD’s Traffic Homicide Unit, and additional charges could be filed pending the outcome of the report.
“This tragedy serves as a painful reminder that impaired driving destroys lives in an instant,” an LPD spokesperson said in a statement Sunday afternoon. “Every decision to drink and drive puts not only the driver’s life at risk but also the lives of innocent passengers and others on the road.”
Friends and family of David Salazar-Castillo are mourning the loss of a young man described as kind, ambitious, and full of potential. Loved ones gathered Sunday evening to honor his memory, lighting candles and leaving flowers near the crash site. As the community grieves, police continue to urge drivers to make responsible choices and never get behind the wheel while impaired. Further updates on the investigation will be released as more information becomes available.