JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville family is mourning the loss of a U.S. Army veteran and father of two, killed last week when a drunk driver struck his vehicle on Interstate 295.
Caleb Suit, who served two tours in Afghanistan, was driving home from his job as an engineer at Blue Origin near Daytona on the night of June 3rd when a BMW driven by 28-year-old Christian Sotolongo slammed into his white Ford Focus northbound on I-295, just before the San Jose exit.
Sotolongo told Florida Highway Patrol troopers he had been cut off by a motorcycle, causing him to lose control of his vehicle. Troopers noted his eyes were bloodshot and watery and detected the smell of alcohol coming from his car. When questioned about where he had been, Sotolongo initially refused to answer before later admitting he had come from Walk-On’s Sports Bar.
Sotolongo was arrested and charged with DUI. Suit was transported to Orange Park Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.
Suit’s wife, Sloan Callahan, said she first learned something was wrong when she received a crash alert on her phone that night.
“I had tried getting a hold of him — he didn’t answer, so I started to worry pretty quickly,” Sloan Suit told News4JAX. “And then I called non-emergency JSO just to confirm if there was an incident in that area. They confirmed that there was.”
A location alert on her phone directed her to Orange Park Medical Center.
“I had gotten a last and final alert that his location was at Orange Park Medical Center,” she said. “So I knew that that was him, and I headed that way.”
The injuries Caleb Suit sustained were severe.
“He had multiple injuries to several different areas of his brain,” Sloan said. “He immediately went into a coma — and remained in the coma the whole time.”
After several days on life support, Caleb Suit was declared brain dead. He was 36 years old.
Before his career at Blue Origin, Suit served honorably in the U.S. Army, completing two tours in Afghanistan and a tour in Cuba. His family described him as a devoted husband, father, son, and provider.
“He was exceptional at everything he did,” Sloan Suit said. “But the best thing he did was be a father. There’s just no doubt about it. And those kids love him so much.”
Suit is survived by his wife and two children. The couple’s son has special needs and requires full-time, ongoing therapy and support, care that Sloan, will now navigate alone.
“He was our provider,” she said. “He financially took care of basically everything for us.”
In speaking out, Sloan Suit said she hopes her family’s tragedy serves as a warning.
“If you drink, just call somebody — call an Uber,” she said. “Please do not drive your car. Because while I don’t think there’s ever any intention of getting on the road and ruining somebody’s life, that can happen. And that did happen.”
How to help
The Suit family has set up a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses and the ongoing care of their children. As of publication, the campaign has raised more than $14,000.
To donate or share the campaign, visit their GoFundMe.