Speeding citation released before deadly wrong-way crash, ticket shows nearly 30 over

NAPLES, Fla. (WINK) — WINK News obtained the traffic citation showing the woman accused of drunk driving the wrong way on I-75 and causing a deadly crash was driving nearly 30 miles per hour over the speed limit less than two hours before the crash.

The citation shows Genise Taylor, 24, was pulled over at 2:33 a.m. on March 18 on Tamiami Trail North in Collier County. According to the ticket, she was driving 71 miles per hour in a 45 mile-per-hour zone. The violation carries a $278 civil penalty.

That stop is now under scrutiny as investigators and prosecutors examine what happened in the hours leading up to the crash that killed 96-year-old Arthur Gilbert of Naples.

WINK Investigates previously obtained a jail phone call in which Taylor describes that same traffic stop in her own words.

“You got pulled over at 2:30 in the morning, correct?” a man asked Taylor in the call.

“Yeah, the cop had knew me... and he let me go,” Taylor said.

“And the cop let you go... well, he shouldn't have done that, and that's gonna be something that helps you out in this case, because that cop should have, that cop should have stopped you and not let you drive anymore, at least... but he didn't,” the man said.

“He didn't let me drive... he didn't let me drive... my friend took the car,” Taylor said.

“Oh, oh my god, bro. Oh my god, bro,” the man responded.

 Taylor’s defense attorney says the man on the phone is a family member. Prosecutors used Taylor’s own words during a recent hearing.

“She knew at 2:30 that she shouldn't be driving because a law enforcement officer apparently told her that and waited for somebody to come pick her up, and yet she chose to get back into a vehicle,” said Assistant State Attorney Mara Marzano.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office says Deputy Eric Pellegrino, the deputy involved in the stop, is not on administrative leave but remains the subject of an internal investigation.

 Investigators say Taylor later drove the wrong way on I-75 and crashed head-on into Gilbert’s vehicle, killing him. He had just dropped off his wife at the airport and was heading home.

Earlier this week, Gilbert’s wife, Pamela, told WINK News she is focused on honoring his legacy with family. He would have turned 97 next month.

In the jail call, Taylor expressed remorse.

“I would never want to touch another drop of alcohol in my life again,” she said.