Florida Teen Sentenced to 12.5 Years for Fatal Crash that Killed Six Farmworkers

In 2022, a tragic incident occurred in Palm Beach County, Florida, when Noah Galle, then 17, crashed his BMW sports car into the rear of a small SUV at speeds exceeding 150 mph. This devastating accident resulted in the deaths of six farmworkers who were returning home from their job at Pero Family Farms, marking one of the county's deadliest road traffic events.

After reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors, Galle, now 20, has been sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison for his actions. He faced six charges of vehicular homicide and expressed remorse through a statement read by his defense attorney. This plea deal enabled him to evade a trial that could have led to a sentencing of at least 55 years to a maximum of 90 years, though consecutive sentences are rarely assigned without a significant prior criminal history.

The fatal crash happened on January 27, 2022, when Galle was driving his BMW M5 at an alarming speed of 151 mph on State Road 7, where the speed limit is set at 55 mph. The impact caused the SUV, carrying six individuals, to flip over multiple times. Mirlane Julceus, the driver, and her passengers—ranging in age from 29 to 77—were all killed, with five dying instantly and one succumbing to injuries later.

The state's Chief Assistant State Attorney, Al Johnson, indicated that the plea deal was seen as fair and had the support of the victims' families, some of whom expressed that they didn't oppose a jail sentence for Galle. Galle's age at the time of the crash and his lack of previous offenses were also considered in determining an appropriate resolution to the case.

As part of his sentence, Galle will have to serve a minimum of 85% of his prison term and will be placed on probation for seven years following his release. Additionally, he has been ordered to post a video on social media addressing the importance of safe driving, perform 800 hours of community service, complete a 12-hour driving course, and participate in a panel sharing the experiences of crash victims.