State Attorney’s Office Charges Suzanna Norris With Driving Under the Influence After Fatal Crash in Cocoa
By Space Coast Daily // February 17, 2022
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – State Attorney’s for the 18th Judicial Circuit has announced that they will be charging Suzanna Norris with Driving Under the Influence after the fatal vehicle vs pedestrian crash claimed the life of Passion Lucas on June 20, 2021 at approximately 2:20 a.m.
Below is the statement by Office of the State Attorney and their decision to prosecute in the case:
“We are deeply saddened at the tragic death of Passion Lucas, and the terrible loss suffered by her children, family, and friends. Their grieving and anger at the void left by her passing is understandable, and inconsolable.
Our responsibility is to hold Suzanna Norris accountable and aggressively prosecute this case in an effort to obtain justice on behalf Passion Lucas and her family. As a result, we have formally charged Norris with one count of Driving Under the Influence.
While we are sympathetic to calls for additional charges, the State is legally and ethically obligated to only file those offenses that prosecutors reasonably believe, based upon all of the available evidence, can be proven beyond and to the exclusion of every reasonable doubt at trial.
In an effort to address concerns and provide transparency, we are releasing the detailed accident reconstruction report of Florida Forensic Engineering Inc.
After an exhaustive examination of all of the available evidence related to the scene, the vehicle, and the actions of both Lucas and Norris, the report concluded that the “accident [was] unavoidable by the [vehicle] driver. The pedestrian created the hazard by walking in the vehicular way.”
Unfortunately, these findings provide a direct and reasonable defense to any charge of negligent homicide. Further, there is no independent physical evidence or witness testimony to prove the offense of hit and run at trial.
A defendant’s statements, regardless of their validity, cannot be the sole evidence of guilt to support a criminal prosecution.
In an effort to avoid the possibility of adversely impacting the ongoing criminal prosecution of Suzanna Norris, our office will not be offering further comment while the case remains active.”
Norris struck Passion Lucas, 37, in the area of Industry Rd. just north of the SR-528 overpass where she later died at an area hospital.
After the crash, Norris left the scene without immediately rendering aid or waiting for law enforcement to arrive. However, she later returned to the scene a short time after the crash.
The investigation revealed Norris’ blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit of .080.
