POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Lake Wales man faces serious charges following his arrest Tuesday in connection with a fatal head-on collision that occurred nearly three months ago in Winter Haven, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office reported. The arrest came after toxicology results confirmed the driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
Sergio Nino Ramirez, 27, was arrested by PCSO Traffic Homicide Unit detectives on April 15, 2025, and charged with DUI Causing Death (F2) and Vehicular Homicide (F2).
The deadly crash took place before dawn on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 4:25 am on State Road 60 at Logistics Parkway. According to the investigation, Ramirez was driving a 2022 Hyundai Sonata westbound in the eastbound lanes when he collided head-on with a 2004 Nissan Sentra.
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The driver of the Nissan, 35-year-old Orli Dagoberto Argueta Sanchez of Honduras, was killed in the impact.
Investigators obtained warrants to acquire blood samples taken from Ramirez at the hospital following the crash. These samples were sent to the University of Florida toxicology lab for analysis. The results showed Ramirez had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.12 g/100mL when admitted to the hospital post-crash. The legal BAC limit in Florida is 0.08 g/100mL.
Detectives also analyzed the Crash Data Retrieval (CDR) information from Ramirez’s Hyundai Sonata. The data indicated that there was no braking or other driver input immediately preceding the collision.
“An innocent man was killed in that horrendous crash nearly three months ago, but Sergio Ramirez’s life goes on,” stated Sheriff Grady Judd. “My detectives are the best at what they do, and they have built a very strong case that should result in Ramirez getting the justice he deserves.”
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Ramirez, a US citizen, was booked into the Sheriff’s Processing Center following his arrest. He is currently being held with no bond and is scheduled to have his First Appearance hearing on Wednesday.
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