A Florida pastor is facing charges of vehicular homicide and driving under the influence manslaughter after allegedly crashing his car at high speed while intoxicated, killing his 8-year-old daughter. The incident occurred in January, nearly a year after the death of his wife.

Joel Leiniz, 38, was reportedly driving with his three daughters at approximately 104 mph in a 40 mph zone when his 2017 Audi Q7 collided with a concrete pole in West Palm Beach on Jan. 17. The vehicle subsequently caught fire, resulting in the death of his daughter, Zoe. Leiniz and his other two daughters, Esperanza and Zoe, sustained injuries and were hospitalized.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Leiniz told authorities he swerved to avoid an oncoming car while driving his daughters to a Mexican restaurant after a church concert. He also stated he would not have been speeding with his children in the vehicle. However, the Audi's internal data indicated the vehicle was traveling at 104 mph at the time of the crash.

At the hospital, Leiniz's blood-alcohol concentration was measured at 0.083%, which is slightly above Florida's legal limit of 0.08%. Officials believe his BAC may have been higher at the time of the collision.

Leiniz was arrested on July 19 on the aforementioned charges. Records indicate his wife, Sarah, who was the mother of all three daughters, died of cancer on Jan. 26, 2025, less than a year before the fatal crash. Leiniz had been the sole caregiver for his wife during her illness.

His attorney, Anthony Genova, requested a lower bond than the $200,000 sought by prosecutors, citing Leiniz as a "grieving, newly widowed father" who had recently resigned from his job to care for his family. Genova stated that Leiniz's savings were depleted during his wife's care and that he now relies on Social Security survivor benefits, assistance from his live-in parents, and his sister.

Leiniz had reportedly left a position at New Covenant Church around the time of his wife's death but was working as a youth pastor there, according to his LinkedIn profile. He has pleaded not guilty and was granted bail set at $150,000. Information regarding his next court appearance was not immediately available. Representatives for Leiniz and New Covenant Church did not immediately respond to requests for comment.