A Vero Beach woman has been charged with DUI Manslaughter in connection with a May 16 utility terrain vehicle accident in Okeechobee County.

Bianca Ruiz Dominguez, 25, was arrested May 17, by the Florida Highway Patrol and charged with one count of DUI-Manslaughter and three counts of DUI with property damage or injury to another.

She was booked into the St. Lucie County jail. Bond was set at $30,000.

On May 16, FHP Trooper R. Perez was dispatched to a fatal crash on N.W. 240^th Street in Okeechobee County, on property belonging to Coquina Water Control District. The FHP report states the accident was reported at 3:56 p.m. on May 16.

The 2026 CanAm Maverick X3 was driven by a 25-year-old Vero Beach woman.

“Upon arrival, I observed a Utility Terrain Vehicle (V-1) upright on a soft sand surface, facing east. Debris was scattered around the vehicle. Blood was visible on the driver's side door, and both rear tires were damaged. Inside the vehicle, a bottle of Corona beer was located on the rear right floorboard. North of V-1, additional blood was observed on the soft sand surface, along with crushed Modelo beer cans.”

A witness on the scene stated he and a group, including Ruiz Dominguez, were at his residence in Fort Pierce earlier in the day, consuming alcohol starting around 10 a.m. The group later traveled to the area of NW 240^th Street, where alcohol consumption continued. The witness stated he saw Ruiz Dominguez drinking shots of Blue Label whiskey and beers.

The witness state he saw Ruiz Dominguez in the driver’s seat of the vehicle and three other women in the passenger seats.

The witness said Ruiz Dominguez asked him to record a video, which he did. He told the trooper that he observed Ruiz Dominguez accelerate rapidly eastbound, kicking up soft sand, The driver then made a sharp left turn, causing the vehicle to overturn.

The passenger in the front right seat – identified as a 34-year-old Port St. Lucie woman -- was ejected.  She was flown to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce and was pronounced deceased a short time later.

Ruiz-Dominguez was initially transported to HCA Florida Raulerson Hospital in Okeechobee, then flown to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce.

According to the FHP report, the other two passengers had non-incapacitating injuries.

At HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital, FHP Sgt. William Fenton made contact with hospital staff. Trauma nurse Lisa Carroll advised Sgt. Fenton that the driver’s intake blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was 0.128. (In Florida, a  BAC of 0.08 or higher is considered impaired.)

FHP made contact with an ICE Agent and confirmed that Ruiz Dominguez has an active detainer. She was medically cleared from HCA Lawnwood Hospital and transported to the St. Lucie County Jail.