Police: Driver in fatal DUI crash admits drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Demetrius Jordan, accused of running a red light and killing an Orlando father and his three sons asked a judge to keep his medical records hidden from the jury today.

The St. Petersburg man admitted to using alcohol and marijuana before the crash, according to St. Petersburg Police.

The crash killed 51-year-old Elroy McConnell and his three sons, who were all pronounced dead at the scene.

Relative to the victims, Rebecca Watson said, "We would like to focus on forgiveness and thinking about how do we as a community come together and make sure that we shine a light on this kind of behavior because it is fixable. There is no reason why we should ever have a death from this point forward because of DUI."

Twenty-year-old Demetrius Jordan told police he was mixing liquor with cans of Four Loko, an energy drink that combines caffeine with malt liquor.

A can of Four Loko was found behind the driver's seat in his Chevrolet Impala, according to police spokesman Mike Puetz.

Puetz said that results on his blood-alcohol level will take several weeks.

 "We are talking about three whole families. Three whole families, young wives, young children, gone. Their lives are destroyed," Watson said.

Jordan, along with his passenger, Mario Robinson, remain at Bayfront Medical Center where they are continuing to recover from the injuries they suffered in the crash.

His first court date took place over the phone, with the judge reading the charges to him.

Jordan was charged with four counts of DUI Manslaughter, 1 count of DUI with serious bodily injury, and possession of alcohol by a person under 21.

Judge Don Horrox increased his bond on each manslaughter charge from $20,000 to $50,000. His bond on the DUI with serious injury charge was doubled to $20,000.

During the hearing, Jordan admitted drinking a beer. In addition Jordan was already facing license suspension before the early Sunday morning crash, according to court records.

Police said Jordan was drunk when he crashed his car at the intersection of 22nd Avenue North and MLK Street around 12:45 a.m. Sunday morning.

A request to suspend his license was made on July 26th.

Records show he failed to pay a $166 fine after he ran a stop sign on June 30th.

However, a check of DMV records show his license is still currently active. A DMV spokesperson said it can take up to a month for a suspension to go through.

Jordan has seven traffic citations according to court records, three of them in June, but no prior arrests.

Jordan's father Homer broke down Sunday, moments after learning his son, who is not old enough to buy alcohol, is accused of the horrific crime.

St. Petersburg Police say the younger Jordan was speeding when he blew through a traffic light. Witnesses told investigators he could have been going as fast as 80 miles per hour, although police said they are still trying to determine his speed at the time of the crash.

His Chevrolet Impala collided with a Ford Fusion, driven by 51-year-old Elroy McConnell.

Jordan’s father was visibly shaken when he spoke to ABC Action News. He said was distraught over the idea that his son could have committed such as reckless act.

“Man I am hurt for them,” he said of the McConnell family, “He did not need to be doing what he did.”

McConnell and his sons, 19-year-old Kelly McConnell, 24-year-old Nathan McConnell and 28-year-old Elroy McConnell III  were on vacation. They had rented a house on Redington Beach.

The elder McConnell wrote about it on his Facebook page, just hours before the crash.

“This is the best idea we have had in years ... rented a house on the beach for Amy, Kelly and I and my two older son's families,” Elroy wrote. ”I think Amy and I at least will be doing this again in the future.”

But there will be no future for the Orlando accountant and his three sons. Their longtime neighbor Norma Vazquez couldn't get over the tragedy.

"I was in shock when he told me that but when he told me about the three sons, we just couldn't believe it," Vazquez said.

Jordan and his passenger, Mario D. Robinson, were transported to Bayfront Hospital with serious injuries. Police said Jordan suffered some leg injuries and is expected to be in the hospital for a couple of days.

Homer Jordan rushed to the hospital to be with his son, but his thoughts were still on the lives he’s accused of wiping out.

“I am sorry for y'all pain and hurt that my son has caused,” Jordan cried. ”Whatever I can do to help y'all just let me know."

"He's decent. He's decent. He just make wrong decisions," he added.

Vazquez had a hard time coming to terms with the crash that claimed her friends.

"You know we have to be angry. Come on. Someone's been drinking, is out on the road and shouldn't be on the road, was on the road and this is what happened," she told Orlando station WFTV.