Press Releases

Suspect in fatal DUI eludes authorities
July 25, 2008

A teenager gets behind the wheel of a car, following an afternoon of drinking, and causes a crash that leaves a mother of two young children dead.

Corporal Bob Brown of the Florida Highway Patrol has spent a career investigating accidents – but it’s the images of a 2003 drunk driving crash – and the suspect who got away – that keep him searching for one of Collier County’s 10 most wanted fugitives.

“I’ve been doing this for a very long time, and this is my only unresolved case. I think about it all the time," Brown said.

Roman Saldarriaga was only 19 years old when he got behind the wheel drunk, and slammed into the back of a car driven by Janelle Hail, a young mother of two. The impact sent Hail into oncoming traffic, and a fatal collision which took her life. At the scene, troopers say Saldarriaga claimed not to know anything about the crash – and denied being drunk. Blood tests later revealed he was more than twice the legal limit.

“He denied ever being involved in a crash – acted as if nothing ever happened. His main concern was how long would it be before he could get his car back," Brown said.

Troopers at the scene found empty beer cans in Saldarriaga’s car, and others that he ditched in the woods. This is a photo of him at the crash scene – a time when officers say he showed no remorse or even concern for the woman he’d just killed.

Brown says the public’s help is needed to put the man responsible for Janette Hail’s death behind bars. Although they don’t believe he’s still in Southwest Florida, troopers are confident someone knows where they can find him. And they’re more than happy to bring him back home - so that Saldarriaga can have his day in court.

“We know for a fact that family members know where he’s at. Have a heart. There’s a family out there suffering because of your son’s actions. You need to come forward and help us get this resolved – cause it’s not gonna go away," Brown said.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Roman Saldarriaga is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000. Tips can also be made online at www.swflcrimestoppers.org.