PALM SPRINGS, Fla. — A west Boca Raton woman killed in a high-speed crash near Palm Springs early Wednesday may have been driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
The wreck happened just before 2 a.m. at the intersection of South Military Trail and Forest Hill Boulevard.
According to a sheriff's office crash report, Olivia Maly, 28, of west Boca Raton, was driving a Dodge Challenger north on South Military Trail at a "high rate of speed."
Maly slammed head-on into an Acura ILX, driven by Patrice Sajous, 38, of Palm Beach County, as the Acura entered the intersection of South Military Trail and Forest Hill Boulevard.
The Challenger then crashed into a power pole and flipped over, landing on its roof.
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Maly was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver of the Acura suffered serious injuries.
According to the crash report, Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office investigators believe Maly may have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs when the wreck happened.
It’s still unclear if there were any reports of erratic driving, or if Palm Beach County deputies were trying to stop Maly before she allegedly hit another driver head-on.
Witnesses said that after a loud boom and flames bursting from one of the cars, deputies were very close and arrived quickly.
"I just saw this come up in flames," said Victor Doucet.
Doucet put thought to action at 2 a.m. Wednesday, moments after he heard a loud crash on South Military Trail and Forest Hill Boulevard.
"I never used a fire extinguisher before but, you know, I did my best," Doucet said.
Doucet rushed to put out the flames of one of the cars, which was upside down on the road,
"At 3 a.m. I just got a phone call and on the other line it’s the sheriff telling me my husband was involved in a car accident," said Natalie Sajous.
Sajous spent the entire night by her husband in the hospital. Broken bones, broken ribs, a long recovery ahead, Sajous said, but he’s alive.
Now she’s learning more about Maly, who recently served 28 days in jail for drug possession. She has a history of trouble with the law including battery, drug possession, and reckless driving.
"I just hope it's a lesson to everyone out there that drinking and driving or under the influence of any kind of substance, that it’s not worth it. Because form what I heard, the other person did not make it," Sajous said.
Patrice Sajous will undergo surgery on Thursday. His wife said she saw the aftermath and what was once their Acura, and said her husband is lucky to be alive.
WPTV has requested 911 calls and sheriff's office dash camera video to learn if deputies had received any reports about Maly prior to the crash, or if they had already tried to stop her before the wreck.
