OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The trial date has been set for the man accused of killing a mother and daughter and injuring four other family members in a crash on U.S. 441 the day before Thanksgiving two years ago.

Logan Levi Alexander Wier, 34, faces multiple charges including two counts of DUI manslaughter in an accident that killed 32-year-old Heidy Martinez and her mom, 61-year-old Adriana Martinez.

On Thursday, Judge Lisa Herndon set Wier’s trial date for January 22.

Logan Levi Alexander Wier, 34, is accused of killing a mother and her daughter and injuring four others while driving under the influence. Photo Courtesy: MCSO

What happened:
Six members of the Martinez family were in a car – headed to North Carolina to surprise family members for Thanksgiving, recounts Gleny Andrade, the cousin of Heidy and niece to Adriana. They had just left Andrade’s mom’s house and were driving on U.S. Highway 441. Wier was also driving on 441 northbound. Andrade says based on surviving family members’ accounts and from the investigation, Wier passed a UPS semi-truck and then hit the family’s vehicle from behind, causing it to flip multiple times. According to Andrade, Adriana and Heidy were ejected along with Erica (Adriana’s daughter-in-law) and 10-month-old Ellie (Erica’s daughter). Adriana’s husband, Rolando, was driving the vehicle and his son, Xavier, was in the passenger seat.

32-year-old Heidy (left) and 61-year-old Adriana (right) Martinez died in the accident on U.S. Highway 441. Courtesy: Gleny Andrade

Wier faces several charges: two counts of vehicular homicide, two counts of DUI manslaughter, two counts of DUI with serious bodily injuries, and four counts of DUI with property damage. Under Florida sentencing guidelines, the mandatory minimum sentence for DUI manslaughter in Florida is 124 months and 15 days in prison for each count.

Several members of the Martinez family were present at the Marion County Courthouse Thursday for Wier’s pre-trial hearing.

At the hearing on Thursday, Adriana’s older sister, Lizette, and her husband, German, wore shirts with a photo of Heidy and Adriana and text that says, “Forever in our hearts.” Courtesy: Ryann Dickerson/352today

Wier was also present. Andrade says it is extremely hard to see him. “Anytime we see the defendant it’s a mixture of emotions. It’s anger,” said Andrade. “We try to have empathy to the human extent that we can. But we feel it’s very unfair that we lost two very important family members of ours and he gets to walk around as if nothing happened at this point in time,” said Andrade.

She says she hopes Wier makes changes not for just himself, or their family, but for his family as well. What she wants to tell him is: “What is going on doesn’t only affect us. It affects your family members as well and we are aware of that,” she gripped back tears.

Prior to the hearing on Thursday morning, Andrade sent her family a group text stating, “It’s not on our time. It’s on God’s.” And now that time is also a date on the Marion County court calendar.

Members of the Martinez family gathered at the site of the crash in 2022 to place flowers and memorials in honor of the loved ones they lost. Courtesy: Gleny Andrade