The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced that Diego Hernandez Martinez, 45, was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter in a crash that killed two 25-year-old motorcyclists on Beach Boulevard. The announcement was made in a public statement.
According to News4JAX, the crash occurred in October 2024 when Hernandez Martinez turned his Nissan Frontier into the path of two motorcyclists, Gabe DiSpirito and Joe Royce, who were traveling westbound on Beach Boulevard near Washburn Road. Both riders were wearing helmets but died from their injuries at the scene. In response, loved ones have established a roadside memorial at the intersection.
Toxicology testing showed Hernandez Martinez had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.220, nearly three times the legal limit in Florida. Officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol testified that his physical appearance indicated clear signs of intoxication. As reported by WJXT, court records also revealed Hernandez Martinez had two prior license suspensions stemming from an earlier DUI case.
Families of the victims spoke emotionally during sentencing, describing the personal loss caused by the deaths of DiSpirito and Royce. Prosecutors sought the maximum allowable sentence under the plea deal—12.5 years per victim—bringing the total sentence to 25 years. According to Action News Jax, the judge granted the full sentence and acknowledged that Hernandez Martinez has an ICE hold in place.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) is responsible for law enforcement across Jacksonville and Duval County, Florida. The agency investigates major crimes and partners with state and federal authorities such as the Florida Highway Patrol in cases involving traffic fatalities and DUI enforcement.
