safety
Woman charged in deadly wrong-way crash on Florida Turnpike in Broward sentenced to 20 years behind bars
Summary by The Miami Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Ana Maria Soler , CBS4 Miami
· July 24, 2026
· 2 min read
The woman accused of killing an aspiring Miami-Dade firefighter in a wrong-way crash on the Florida Turnpike in Miramar last year has been sentenced to 20 years in prison and 10 years of probation Friday afternoon. Sunshine Perez, 45, appeared emotional in Friday's sentencing hearing, sobbing for ne
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Miami Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Ana Maria Soler, CBS4 Miami Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 24, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Sunshine Perez, 45, appeared emotional in Friday's sentencing hearing, sobbing for nearly half an hour through her address to the judge.
Why this matters in The Miami
The sentencing of Sunshine Perez to 20 years in prison for the wrong-way crash that killed Zeke Urrutia, a young paramedic with aspirations to become a Miami-Dade firefighter, resonates deeply in a community where public safety is a persistent concern. Miami-Dade County's residents are no strangers to the dangers of reckless driving, and this case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide. The fact that Perez was able to drive several miles in the wrong direction on the Florida Turnpike before crashing into Urrutia's car raises questions about highway safety and the measures in place to prevent such tragedies. As the family of Zeke Urrutia continues to grieve, the community must come together to demand stronger measures to prevent drunk driving and protect the lives of innocent people like Urrutia, who had his whole life ahead of him.
About this story
Original reporting by CBS4 Miami . The Miami surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: safety ·
Published: July 24, 2026 ·
Source: CBS4 Miami ·
Reading time: 2 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? The woman accused of killing an aspiring Miami-Dade firefighter in a wrong-way crash on the Florida Turnpike in Miramar last year has been sentenced to 20 years in prison and 10 years of probation Friday afternoon. Sunshine Perez, 45, appeared emotional in Friday's sentencing hearing, sobbing for ne
When was this published? This article was first published on July 24, 2026 by CBS4 Miami and curated for The Miami readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Ana Maria Soler at CBS4 Miami. To learn more about how The Miami selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Miami, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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