Lantana man charged with 3rd degree murder and DUI manslaughter

Boynton Beach Police charged a Lantana man with third-degree felony murder and DUI manslaughter Tuesday morning for the June 2008 death of a 31-year-old man.

Police say Darrell Hanlon, 38, was drunk and under the influence of cocaine when his Saturn crashed into concrete planters on Northeast 10th Avenue. Just prior to the crash, it is believed he was conducting a drug transaction with Defrick Edwards.

Edwards, of Boynton Beach, was leaning inside the car when Hanlon began to accelerate and swerve. The car traveled up on the sidewalk and crashed into the concrete planters. The impact sent Edwards into a tree at such a force that it caused six inches of his femur to be impaled in the tree. He died at the scene.

Hanlon was arrested at 8:49 a.m. Tuesday morning at Delray Medical Center. It is unknown why he is in the hospital or if it is related to this crash. Once he is released from the hospital, he will be transferred to the Palm Beach County Jail.

Hanlon is charged with third degree felony murder, DUI manslaughter, driving with license revoked – habitual and attempted purchase of cocaine.