The Dodge, driven by Kedan Tillett, 27, of Fort Pierce, and a 2003 BMW in front of it had been stopped at the red light at Midway Road.
Dashner didn’t slow down as the Dodge and BMW began to accelerate from a stop after the red light turned green.
Dashner's GMC hit the Dodge, which then crashed into the BMW. The GMC struck the Dodge a second time. The Dodge's gas tank "was compromised and ignited into a fire," a report states.
Tillett, and four passengers — Alexis Chaney, 17; Anthony Victor, 21; Anthony Martin, 16, all of Fort Pierce; and Darien Douglas, 21, of Port St. Lucie — all died as the pickup caught fire. A sixth person in the Dodge, then 14-year-old Ari'yonnia Stanberry, of Stuart, was pulled out of the truck by a bystander.
Dashner's charges included five counts each of DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide, though defense attorney Ashley Minton Monday argued against the five vehicular homicide counts.
Over objections from Assistant State Attorney Brandon White, Makemson agreed and the five vehicular homicide charges were struck.
Minton read several letters from associates and relatives of Tanner Dashner, including from his mother, praising his character and personality.
Under questioning from White, Bradley Dashner said his son wasn’t beaten or molested as a child and had advantages because he and his wife provided for him. He was an accomplished saxophone player with friends, and had no disciplinary issues at school. Bradley Dashner said his son was raised to be a law abiding citizen.
“He's not some drooling imbecile who doesn't know what's happening, right?” White asked.
“No,” Bradley Dashner replied.