PICU nurse seeking justice after being left paralyzed by suspected drunk driver
By Jade Jarvis
Click here for updates on this story
STUART, Florida (WPBF) — A Martin County mom and pediatric ICU nurse is seeking justice after a crash involving a suspected drunk driver who left her paralyzed from the chest down.
Rebecca Engle and her attorneys said the driver who left her critically injured hasn’t been arrested yet and have filed a civil lawsuit seeking damages for her pain, suffering, and financial burden.
“This accident has significantly changed the course of my life. I’m now having to be — 24 hours a day, seven days a week — cared for by my husband and my kids,” Engle said.
A loss of independence has been the hardest thing to deal with for Engle after 34 years of staying busy and being fulfilled as a registered nurse.
“It’s just my calling. It’s always been what I’ve done. And now to be on the opposite side of the, you know, patient bed, it’s been very humbling,” Engle said.
Engle’s car was left mangled after a serious car crash on Nov. 30, 2025.
“On that night, she was coming home on Southwest Kanner Highway from doing some early Christmas shopping when this intoxicated driver was driving erratically and collided with her at a high rate of speed,” said Ryan McCarthy, Engle’s attorney.
She had to be airlifted to the hospital, is now a quadriplegic, and unable to go back to her nursing job at HCA Lawnwood’s pediatric ICU and needing round-the-clock care from her husband and children.
“It’s almost three months since the accident. Why hasn’t there been an arrest made? We’ve been told that an arrest warrant may be issued next week. But it’s time. It’s time for justice,” said Gary Lesser, Engle’s attorney.
Engle’s attorneys, Lesser, Landy, Smith & Siegel, PLLC, believe the other driver, identified as Steven Hererra Valdez, was drunk at the time of the crash based on the accident report, his speed, and information determined from a blood draw.
Now, they’ve filed a civil lawsuit against him on behalf of Engle seeking damages in excess of $50,000.
WPBF 25 News spoke with Martin County State Attorney Tom Bakkedahl, who said Herrera Valdez wasn’t initially arrested because he was also severely injured and placed in the ICU, and then a mistake in filing paperwork related to the case delayed it further.
“I really just want my day in court to see Mr. Herrera so he can see what he has done to me and to my family. I feel he needs to pay the price for this for sure,” Engle said.
Bakkedahl said there is a hearing scheduled for Mar. 4 in this case to hear testimony from Engle, investigators and witnesses to potentially bring criminal charges forth against Herrera Valdez.
Engle’s friends have set up a GoFundMe page to help her family with medical and living expenses.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.