Police: Man responsible for two Easter deaths arrested on Friday

Gainesville Police arrested a Micanopy man Friday after they said he was under the influence of meth when he hit two cars last Easter, killing a 6-year-old boy and his own 4-month-old child.

On March 27, Taylor Swilley, 21, drove his Kia Sorento on State Road 26 — his wife and two daughters in the car — and swerved into the opposite lane, crashing into a Toyota Corolla, according to Alligator archives.

A 75-year-old man drove two 6 year olds and one 8 year old in the Corolla.

GPD recently announced Swilley’s toxicology reports tested positive for meth that would have been in his system during the crash, according to a press release.

After hitting the Corolla, Swilley then crashed into a Scion, which a 33-year-old Putnam County, Florida, woman drove.

Steven Morton, 6, was pronounced dead at UF Health Shands Hospital after the crash, and 4-month-old Faith Swilley died four days later, according to Alligator archives.

An autopsy showed internal injuries to Morton’s head, torso and spine caused his death, among other injuries, according to a police report. Traumatic head injuries caused the death of Swilley’s daughter, Faith.

At the time, authorities were unsure what caused Swilley to swerve into oncoming traffic, GPD spokesman Officer Ben Tobias said in March.

“Emotions are flaring and my family and I are trying to recover both mentally and physically,” Swilley wrote in a text message to the Alligator days after the crash. .

Tobias said Swilley’s toxicology reports were processed July 12.

Police arrested Swilley on two counts of DUI manslaughter, three counts of DUI with serious bodily injury and three counts of DUI with damaged property, Tobias wrote in an email.

Authorities took Swilley to Alachua County Jail where, as of press time, he remains in lieu of a $1.75 million bond.

“While the arrest of Swilley will never bring back his 4 month old daughter or the 6 year old child, we are pleased that the person responsible is now in jail,” Tobias wrote.

A scene from the March 27 crash on State Road 26. Taylor Swilley, 21,  was recently arrested on eight charges.