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Monteagudo Sentenced to 12 Years for Crash Killing Trenton Stewart
Published on: January 17, 2025
Office of the State Attorney
Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida
www.sao4th.com
Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida
www.sao4th.com
Melissa W Nelson
State Attorney
311 West Monroe Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32202-4242
(904) 255-2500
State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces the Honorable Jeb Branham sentenced Ariel Monteagudo to 12 years in Florida State Prison for the 2023 Vehicular Homicide of Trenton Stewart. Monteagudo previously pleaded guilty to the charge during a Nov. 25, 2024, hearing.
Just after 1 a.m. May 9, 2023, Trenton Stewart drove his Chevy Trailblazer east on Old St. Augustine Road when a Mercedes Benz driven by Monteagudo crashed into him head-on at a high rate of speed. Monteagudo was driving the wrong way on the four-lane road and was driving over 100 mph in the 45-mph speed zone just before the crash. The impact of the crash pushed Stewart’s SUV backward over 130 feet and caused it to overturn.
Stewart was a Stetson college freshman home on summer break. He was taken to the hospital and pronounced deceased. Monteagudo was taken to the hospital in life-threatening conditions and survived his injuries.
The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney John Kalinowski.