HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL. – The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Nicholas Betancourt, 33, of Trinity, following a fatal crash that left one woman dead and three children seriously injured. The incident occurred on Friday, February 28, 2025.
Authorities reported that Betancourt had been arrested by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at approximately 6 p.m. on February 27, 2025, for driving under the influence on East Lake Road. He was released the next day, on February 28, at approximately 9 a.m., on $500 bond.
Hours after his release, at around 3:45 p.m., Betancourt, who had a suspended license, was driving northbound on Gunn Highway when he veered into the southbound lanes, colliding with another vehicle. The crash resulted in the death of 36-year-old Dana Rivera, the driver of the impacted vehicle. Rivera’s three children, ages 4, 6, and 15, suffered serious injuries.
Betancourt displayed signs of impairment and was transported to a hospital for treatment of injuries to both legs. An investigation later confirmed that he was under the influence of cocaine and methamphetamine at the time of the crash. A search of his vehicle uncovered multiple drugs, including methamphetamine, mushrooms, cocaine, MDMA, oxycodone, Xanax, and carisoprodol.
“A mother lost her life, and her children will carry that emotional scar forever. This family’s life was shattered in an instant because of one man’s selfish and reckless decision,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Nicholas Betancourt chose to drive under the influence not once, but twice in just hours, leading to a tragedy that could have been entirely avoided.”
On March 13, 2025, Betancourt was arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including:
- Driving Under the Influence Manslaughter
- Vehicular Homicide
- Driving Under the Influence with Property Damage or Injury (2 counts)
- Driving Under the Influence Serious Bodily Injury (2 counts)
- Reckless Driving with Serious Bodily Injury (2 counts)
- Reckless Driving with Property Damage or Injury (2 counts)
- Driving with a Suspended License Resulting in Death
- Driving with a Suspended License Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury (2 counts)
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (7 counts)
- Possession of Cocaine
- Possession of a Controlled Substance (6 counts)
“Nothing will ever bring their mother back or erase the trauma these children will carry for the rest of their lives, but we want them to know they are not alone. We will stand by them,” added Sheriff Chronister. “We will do everything in our power to ensure this man is held accountable for the devastation he has caused. I hope this arrest brings Dana Rivera’s family some sense of peace and justice.”