Boynton Woman, 78, Killed by Suspected Drunk Driver

Arlene Dym clung to life for days before she died Thursday. Accident on Boynton Beach Boulevard.

BY: CRIME BUREAU 24/7 | BocaNewsNow.com

BOYNTON BEACH, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Loxahatchee man faces a potential vehicular homicide charge following the death of a Boynton Beach woman who was seriously injured on June 7 and died several days later.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said Arlene Dym, 78, of the 9700 block of Summerbrook Terrace in Boynton Beach was making a U-turn in the 7200 block of Boynton Beach Boulevard around 9:30 p.m. Friday, June 7, Francisco Zavala , driving a vehicle without headlights on, hit her. The force of the crash caused Dym's 2020 Subaru Crosstek to spin “towards the south side of the roadway, climbing the curb where it struck a wooden pole with the front passenger quarter panel,” according to police.

“Dym suffered serious, life-threatening injuries and was transported to Delray Medical Center where she remained intubated.” Dym died at 7:12 p.m. Thursday.

Police say Zavala showed “signs of impairment” at the scene. A toxicology test is underway. We note that investigations into traffic homicides in Palm Beach County – and much of the country – can take up to a year before an arrest is made, whether an arrest is appropriate based on the circumstances of the incident.