A Royal Palm Beach man has been taken into custody by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office in connection with a fatal street racing incident that claimed the life of a 29-year-old woman. Donde Nicolas, 24, was arrested and booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on charges of vehicular homicide and racing on a highway. The tragic event took place on July 2, 2023, in Palm Beach County.

According to the arrest report, Nicolas was participating in a reckless street race with a 43-year-old driver on Military Trail in the early hours of July 2. Nicolas was behind the wheel of a 2018 Infiniti Q60S, while his opponent drove a 2020 Toyota Corolla. At approximately 1 a.m., as Nicolas and the other driver raced northbound on Military Trail, a 2004 Hyundai driven by Sophie Prudhomme, 29, was heading southbound on the same road.

As Prudhomme attempted to make a left turn onto Belvedere Road, Nicolas's Infiniti collided with her Hyundai, causing it to spin out and collide with a concrete pole. Sadly, Prudhomme suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead upon arrival at a local hospital.

The arrest report reveals that the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office analyzed the event data recorders in both vehicles involved in the street race. The data revealed that Nicolas and the other driver were traveling at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour in a 40-mile-per-hour zone just moments before the collision occurred.

Eyewitnesses near a gas station close to the accident described the impact as a loud crash that sounded like an explosion. One witness rushed to Prudhomme's Hyundai and found her unconscious, while another witness described the vehicles involved as "annihilated."

An additional witness, who identified herself as a "car girl" and claimed to be involved in the racing community, told investigators that she heard the engines revving and recognized the sound as street racing taking place.

Nicolas initially told investigators that he was driving the Infiniti at the time of the crash but maintained that he was only traveling at approximately 40 miles per hour when Prudhomme "pulled out in front of him."

During the court hearing on Friday, a judge set Nicolas' bond at $55,000 and issued a no-driving order, along with a mandate to have no contact with Prudhomme's family. However, the 43-year-old individual who also participated in the street race has not been arrested, according to court records.

This tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers associated with street racing, highlighting the importance of responsible driving and the enforcement of traffic laws. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the case as they seek justice for Sophie Prudhomme and her grieving family.