Florida woman arrested in crash that left motorcycle rider dead

Susan Smith, 64, was arrested on a DUI manslaughter charge following a 2025 crash that resulted in the death of a motorcycle rider.
Smith’s blood alcohol content was measured at 0.129 and 0.130, above the legal limit of 0.08.
The motorcyclist, Katie Lynn Gift, died from her injuries after being taken to a hospital.
A 64-year-old woman was arrested last week on DUI manslaughter and DUI property damage charges following a 2025 crash that resulted in a motorcycle rider’s death, according to records.
Susan Aileen Smith, of Port St. Lucie, was arrested March 17 in connection with the Nov. 22, 2025, crash that fatally injured Katie Lynn Gift, who rode a Harley-Davidson motorcycle west on Northeast Jensen Beach Boulevard at the time of the crash.
A Martin County Sheriff’s deputy about 8:38 p.m. went to the scene, and investigated the case.
A witness told investigators he was westbound on Northeast Jensen Beach Boulevard approaching Northeast East Court, which intersects with Northeast Jensen Beach Boulevard west of Northeast Savannah Road. The witness reported hearing a loud motorcycle behind him before it passed him.
He reported seeing a Kia Sportage, which investigators said Smith drove, traveling across the westbound lanes of Northeast Jensen Beach Boulevard from Northeast East Court to make a left turn to go east on Northeast Jensen Beach Boulevard.
“This action caused (Gift’s motorcycle) to strike the back of (Smith’s SUV),” an investigator wrote in an application for an arrest warrant.
A 61-year-old passenger in Smith’s SUV was described as “visibly intoxicated and extremely emotional on scene and was unable to provide a statement,” according to the warrant application. The passenger wasn’t injured.
Smith, also uninjured, told investigators, “We were pulling out, and we pulled out, and she hit us,” according to the warrant application.
Gift was taken to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce in critical condition. Deputies learned Nov. 24, 2025, she succumbed to her injuries.
Investigators reported Smith’s speech had a “slight slur,” and she showed signs of impairment.
Blood samples measured Smith’s blood alcohol content at 0.129 and 0.130 — greater than the legal limit of 0.08.
An autopsy determined Gift died from complications of blunt impact injuries. It also determined she had not been drinking.
Gift’s age was not listed, and her date of birth was redacted from records. Her city of residence also wasn’t immediately available.
Investigators reported analyzing aspects of the crash and estimated Gift traveled about 43 mph while Smith traveled about 24 mph before the crash.
Investigators ultimately got video of the crash. That showed Smith’s Kia stopped facing south readying to make a left turn to go east on Northeast Jensen Beach Boulevard. A pickup was westbound on Northeast Jensen Beach Boulevard as Gift approached the pickup from the rear. She accelerated and passed the truck as Smith started to cross the westbound lanes of travel on Northeast Jensen Beach Boulevard.
Gift swerved to avoid Smith’s Kia but struck the rear, driver’s side fender.
Smith was released March 17 from the Martin County Jail on $102,500 bond, a jail official said March 23.