PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — A St. Lucie County sheriff's deputy had his driver's license suspended for six months and was fined $1,500 Wednesday for a crash that killed a woman last year.
Deputy Brayan San Herazo hit and killed Kaitlyn Kohler, 27, in May 2023 along U.S. Highway 1 and Crosstown Parkway.
The judge's order was the minimum sentence after San Herazo pleaded no contest to the traffic citation of speeding 30 mph over the posted speed limit.
According to the traffic citation, San Herazo was headed to assist a traffic stop while driving at 70-74 mph and did not activate his siren when his squad car struck Kohler, who was crossing the street.
The report said Kohler was in the crosswalk but did not have the right of way.
The sentence was disappointing to several of Kaitlyn's friends and family who were in court.
The 19th District State Attorney's Office decided in February not to charge San Herazo with criminal offenses like vehicular homicide.
Brandi Kohler, Kaitlyn's mother, said the deputy got off easy receiving the minimum sentence.
"I feel like he should be fired," Brandi Kohler said. "He should have been fired before. I mean, he broke several agency policies, along with the law."
"You Killed My Daughter"
As San Herazo left the courtroom, a group of the victim's relatives and a few friends followed.
"I want you to see my face," shouted Brandi Kohler at San Herazo. "You killed my daughter."
"Look at the faces of the family members of the woman you killed," added a family friend. "You killed a wonderful person."
In court, San Herazo's lawyer said the deputy had been deeply affected by the crash. After San Herazo left court, he had no comment.
Brandi Kohler said the fight for justice continues.
"This is just the beginning," vowed Kaitlyn's mother. "We're going to keep going, we're not giving up."
A lawyer representing Kaitlyn Kohler's family said in court they are preparing a civil case.
After WPTV went to Sheriff Keith Pearson's office regarding the case, spokeswoman Tonya Woodward emailed NewsChannel 5 the following statement:
"According to Sheriff Keith Pearson, Deputy San Herazo was taken off of administrative leave on May 22. Now that his legal case has come to a conclusion, we will initiate an internal review to determine whether or not Deputy San Herazo broke any Sheriff’s Office policies and then take appropriate action."
