BRADENTON – Cesar Navarrete, the impaired driver who killed Swordfish Grill bartender Sara Danielle Holmes in a DUI-related crash in 2024, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.
On Thursday, April 16, the Bradenton Police Department issued a press release that said, “This afternoon, Cesar Navarrete, arrested in November 2024 on multiple charges, including vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter, was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
“The night of Saturday, November 2, 2024, Navarrete was driving at 115 mph on Cortez Road, approaching 43rd Street West, when he crashed into 37-year-old Sara-Danielle Holmes’ Chevrolet Equinox, splitting the vehicle in half. Holmes, a mother of two small children, was in the passenger seat of the Equinox and died as a result of the collision. Her boyfriend, who was driving the SUV, survived the crash,” the press release says.
“Navarrete and his passenger sustained serious injuries and were transported to a hospital for treatment. Navarrete displayed signs of impairment and the subsequent DUI investigation revealed a blood alcohol concentration of .165. Navarrete, 27, was previously convicted of DUI and was driving with a suspended license at the time of the crash,” the press release says.
Traffic homicide investigators arrested Navarrete on the following charges:
- Vehicular homicide
- DUI manslaughter
- Driving under the influence (property damage and/or personal injury)
- Driving while license cancelled, suspended or revoked and causing serious bodily injury or death
“Navarrete pleaded guilty to all charges. He was sentenced to 25 years in the Department of Corrections, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Additionally, Navarrete’s driver’s license was revoked permanently, and he must pay a combined $40,000 in fines and restitution,” the police department press release says.
The day after the fatal crash, this message was posted at the Swordfish Grill Facebook page: “It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news that our beloved bartender, Sara, tragically lost her life after being struck by a drunk driver. Sara was so much more than a coworker — she was family. Her warm smile and kind spirit lit up our restaurant, bringing joy not only to our customers but to every member of our team.”
After the fatal crash, the “Help Sara’s Family Through This Tragic Time” GoFundMe online fundraiser received $56,179 in donations to assist Sara’s children and family.
