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Trial against driver begins after fatal wrong-way driving accident

The trial of a man involved in a fatal wrong-way driving crash on State Road 44 is set to begin Tuesday in Volusia County. However, the defendant is not the person accused of wrong-way driving. WESH2's Tony Atkins spoke with the family of one of the victims, who believes the accused man should not be charged at all. Investigators say Devin Perkins was driving at nearly 100 mph just seconds before colliding with another wrong-way driver. After rejecting a plea deal, Perkins will go to trial. The Florida Highway Patrol says he was driving with three friends when they collided with a wrong-way driver in 2022. All three passengers died, including his girlfriend Alexandra Dulin, a popular TikTok star known as Ali Spice. Jimmy Dulin, the victim's father, expressed concern: “We're going to sit in a courtroom where 101 photos are used to try to convict someone who we believe doesn't deserve to be charged.” The Dulin family, who traveled from Indiana for the trial, disagrees with the decision to charge Perkins. Jimmy Dulin added: “You didn't hit anyone. You were hit.” Prosecutors reported that Perkins had a blood alcohol level of .028 at the time of the crash, well below the legal limit of .08. However, they argue that he was speeding, traveling nearly 100 mph seconds before the collision. “That was a decision Devin made. He was driving too fast,” Jimmy Dulin explained. “To charge the same young man who would otherwise have been charged with reckless driving and also negligent homicide – that's a tough pill to swallow.” Thomas Petry, the accused wrong-way driver, was charged and fled the scene of the accident immediately after the accident. He pleaded not guilty to negligent homicide and leaving the scene of an accident and faces a life sentence in prison, although he is currently free on bail awaiting sentencing. Tamara Dulin, the victim's mother, expressed her frustration: “He's going to spend the holidays with his family. A third holiday. I mean, he's going to spend time in prison. Why isn't he in prison now?” Perkins' trial is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. If convicted, he faces a life sentence in prison.

DELAND, Fla. —

The trial of a man involved in a fatal wrong-way driving crash on State Road 44 is set to begin Tuesday in Volusia County, but the defendant is not the person accused of driving the wrong way.

WESH2's Tony Atkins spoke with the family of one of the victims, who believes the accused man should not face any charges at all.

According to investigators, Devin Perkins was traveling at nearly 100 mph just seconds before he collided with another wrong-way driver.

After rejecting a plea deal, Perkins is now facing trial. The Florida Highway Patrol says he was driving with three friends when they collided with a wrong-way driver in 2022. All three passengers died, including his girlfriend Alexandra Dulin, a popular TikTok star known as Ali Spice.

Jimmy Dulin, the victim's father, expressed his concern: “We will be sitting in a courtroom where 101 photographs are used to convict someone who, in our opinion, does not deserve to be charged.”

The Dulin family, who traveled from Indiana to attend the trial, disagrees with the decision to charge Perkins. Jimmy Dulin added: “You didn't hit anyone. You were hit.”

Prosecutors said Perkins had a blood alcohol level of .028 at the time of the crash, well below the legal limit of .08, but they argue he was speeding, traveling nearly 100 miles per hour seconds before the collision.

“That was a decision Devin made. He was driving too fast,” Jimmy Dulin explained. “Then to charge the same young man who would have been charged with reckless driving and also with involuntary manslaughter – that's hard to swallow.”

Thomas Petry, the accused wrong-way driver, was charged and fled the scene of the accident immediately after the accident. He pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident and faces a life sentence in prison, although he is currently out on bail awaiting sentencing.

Tamara Dulin, the victim's mother, expressed her frustration: “He will spend the holidays with his family. A third holiday. I mean, he will spend time in prison. Why isn't he in prison now?”

Perkins' trial is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. If convicted, he faces a life sentence in prison.

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