DUI Leaving Scene of Accident

October 17, 2017

Man Charged with DUI in UHaul Crash in St. Pete Beach

A 32-year-old man was arrested on multiple charges early Friday after police said he crashed a U-Haul moving truck into a St. Pete Beach hotel.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the man drove the UHaul truck into the Hotel Zamora located at 3701 Gulf Boulevard just after midnight.

Officials said the man then drove off from the area. He was arrested about two hours later.

When deputies arrived there was substantial structural damage to a hotel parking garage drop ceiling. Witnesses provided deputies with a description of the moving truck.

Shortly afterward, deputies stopped a 10 foot U-Haul truck with roof damage, driving north on Gulf Winds Drive at 64th Avenue in St. Pete Beach.

Officials said the man told them he attended a party at Hotel Zamora. After the party, the man was driving his passenger to her car in the parking garage when he struck the parking garage drop ceiling with the roof of the U-Haul truck.

The man apparently said he fled the scene and hid the truck in the area until deputies left the area. He said he was in the process of moving to Miami.

He is facing charges of leaving the scene of crash with property damage, one count of DUI, and one count of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine).

Operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol can lead to life-changing penalties. These charges are further complicated when a crash occurs resulting in property damage. A Tampa Bay DUI Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can make sure you understand your legal options and what to expect from the criminal justice system. We can walk you through every stage of the process, working with you to aggressively pursue your desired outcome.

August 14, 2017

Tampa Woman Accused of DUI After Crash Killed Child, 2 Adults

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A fiery crash on the Selmon Expressway killed a child and two adults, and led to the arrest of a 29-year-old Brandon woman for DUI.

The woman is accused of leaving the scene of the crash and she faces a litany of charges after she apparently lost control of her car near the Bay to Bay and Euclid exit and “touched off a chain reaction of crashes,” leading to the deaths of two adults and one child, according to police.

Witnesses allege they saw the woman driving at a “high rate of speed,” eastbound on the expressway. Reports indicate they said she tried to pass at least two vehicles going in the same direction, lost control of her vehicle and slammed into the back of a Hyundai occupied by the three victims. The Hyundai then spun out of control through the grass median and into the westbound lanes where it was struck by a Jeep and an Infinity SUV. The vehicle came to a final rest in the westbound lanes and burst into flames, according to police.

The woman is accused of leaving the scene. Law enforcement caught up with her shortly after the crash when her car broke down near Willow Avenue and Platt Street.

According to reports, her speech was slurred, and police said she admitted to using anxiety medications Lexapro and Ativan before getting behind the wheel, and she allegedly failed a field sobriety test after demonstrating clues of impairment.

She was taken into custody and transported to Tampa General Hospital where her blood was taken for alcohol testing. According to police, once they administered the blood tests, the woman tried to remove her vials of blood and hide them in her underwear, which lead them to charging her with tampering with physical evidence.

The woman has been charged with three counts of DUI manslaughter, DUI with serious bodily injury, leaving the scene of a crash with death, leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury and tampering with physical evidence.

Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime. When added to driving under the influence, charges and penalties will become escalated. While a simple DUI may only be a misdemeanor, the offense can become more serious when there are additional factors, like fleeing the scene of the accident.

July 27, 2017

Lakeland Man Arrested on DUI Hit And Run Charges

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Lakeland man was arrested Saturday night on DUI charges after a hit and run and driving the wrong-way.

Troopers believe the 36-year-old was driving recklessly westbound on I-4 around 10 p.m. Saturday.

When troopers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the Dodge Journey, they said the man drove through the median and cable barrier into the eastbound lanes of I-4, still traveling westbound.

Troopers claim the man then stopped his vehicle westbound on the inside shoulder of eastbound I-4, and when they approached him, they said he drove off to the outside shoulder and stopped.

Troopers then arrested and charged the man with DUI, DUI property damage, leaving the scene of a crash, and driving on the wrong side of a divided highway.

He was transported to the Polk County jail.

Leaving the scene of an accident (hit-and-run) is a crime. When coupled with DUI, charges and penalties can be more severe. While a Florida DUI may only be a misdemeanor on its own, the offense can be enhanced when there are aggravating factors, such as leaving the scene of the accident. Anytime a driver is involved in an accident, they are required to stop.

Just because you have been charged with DUI does not mean you are guilty. Our Florida DUI Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton know the many faults and flaws that can occur during a traffic stop or during a DUI investigation. Law enforcement officers do not always use the proper procedures when stopping vehicles.

May 3, 2017

Florida Man Gets DUI Charge After Crash Near Air Force One

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Florida man is facing DUI charges after crashing into a fence at Palm Beach International Airport with Air Force One parked nearby.

Reports indicate that the early Sunday crash had the Secret Service investigating any potential threat to the Boeing 747 used by President Donald Trump. The president was at his Mar-a-Lago resort last weekend. No threat was identified.

The 24-year-old man, who investigators said fled the crash and reported a fake carjacking to authorities, was charged with DUI, filing a false crime report and leaving the scene of a crash.

Palm Beach County sheriff’s records show he was released on his own supervision.

A conviction for DUI carries stiff penalties, even for first-time offenders. While you may think that you have no choice but to plead guilty to DUI charges, that is simply not true. An experienced DUI defense attorney may be able to get your charges reduced or have your case dismissed entirely.

April 19, 2017

Former State of Florida Parks Director and Utility Regulator Faces DUI Charges

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Lisa Edgar, who served 12 years on the Florida Public Service Commission before a brief stint as state parks director, was arrested Saturday on two charges each of DUI with property damage and leaving the scene of a crash with more than $50 in property damage.

According to reports, the Florida Highway Patrol troopers received a call about 11 p.m. from a motorist who said a Mercedes Benz was unable to stay in its lane on Centerville Road in Tallahassee and hit his driver’s side mirror. Troopers said they later determined the Mercedes was driven by Edgar, who lives in Tallahassee.

Reports indicate that Edgar, 53, pulled over at first and spoke to the other driver before abruptly rolling up her window and driving away. Other motorists apparently called law enforcement to say that the Mercedes was driving erratically and running people off the roadway.

Edgar resigned in February as Florida park’s director after just two months on the job, citing a family emergency. Edgar had earlier served three terms on the PSC, which regulates Florida utilities. She was appointment in 2005 by then-Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

April 5, 2017

Lakeland Man Facing DUI Manslaughter Charges After Father’s Death

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 33-year-old Lakeland man has been charged with DUI manslaughter after his father died from his injuries in a January crash.

The man was already in Polk County Jail after the crash, which occurred Jan. 21.

At that time, the man had been charged with DUI leaving scene involving bodily injury.

The man’s father was hospitalized after the crash and died on March 27, according to reports.

Authorities announced the new charge against the man on Tuesday.

The man’s father suffered multiple broken bones in the crash and was being treated at Lakeland Regional Health before he died.

Facing charges that deal with taking someone else’s life is terrifying. DUI Manslaughter charges carry serious lifelong penalties that will follow you around forever. Because of the severity of these charges, you need to enlist legal help as soon as possible, so that you can have the best defense strategy possible.

November 25, 2015

Stay Safe & Prevent a DUI this Thanksgiving Holiday

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Around 40 million drivers will be travelling on the roadways over the long Thanksgiving weekend to spend time with family and friends. In fact, Thanksgiving weekend is the most travelled holiday period of the year. It is estimated that 418 people will lose their lives in motor vehicle collisions in the United States this Thanksgiving weekend, according to the National Safety Council.

For college students, Thanksgiving Eve is sometimes referred to as “Black Wednesday,” and it is unofficially known as the busiest bar night of the year, which means it is also the biggest drunk driving night of the year.

As many people celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, their celebration also includes the use of not just alcohol, but also drugs. Alcohol or drugs, or a combination of them, will put drivers at risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accidents that could kill or injure themselves as well as others.

It is important to mention that Florida has a Zero Tolerance policy for drivers under the age of 21. Any driver who is under 21 who is stopped by law enforcement officers and has a blood alcohol level of .02 or higher will automatically have his or her Florida driver’s license suspended for six months. There are many other devastating consequences that accompany a DUI conviction, including academic penalties as well as criminal consequences.

Avoid a DUI this Thanksgiving

There are a few tips that can be followed to prevent DUI injuries and deaths, including:

Plan a safe way to get home before heading out to your party
Before drinking, designate a sober driver

If you are intoxicated, please do not get behind the wheel of a car. Call a taxi, use public transportation, call a sober friend or family member, or even use a ride share app such as Uber or Lyft so that you are sure to get home safely.
Remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. Take the keys and help them make other arrangements to get where they are going safely.

September 2, 2015

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is underway. From August 19 through September 7, 2015, the national drunk driving enforcement crackdown will run to increase awareness through public safety campaigns. Law enforcement agencies across the nation will be out in full force to catch drunk driving offenders.

This year, the NHTSA will be taking a multi-pronged approach to educational awareness. They will be using paid, earned and social media advertising outlets, as well as working with a variety of local resources across the country.

Drunk Driving: A Look At the Numbers

Around one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the U.S. involve drunk drivers.
In 2013, 10,076 people were killed in drunk driving crashes in the U.S.
On Labor Day weekend in 2013, there were 424 crash fatalities nationwide.
Nearly half of the 424 fatal crashes in 2013 involved drunk drivers.
In 2013, an estimated 1 in 5 child passenger deaths happened in drunk-driving crashes.
Drunk driving crashes cost an estimated $49.8 billion annually.

Increased Enforcement of Drunk Driving Laws

In the upcoming weeks, local and state law enforcement agencies will be stepping up their drunk driving enforcement efforts. Expect to see an increased number of patrols out as well as more DUI checkpoints. Labor Day weekend is notorious for drunk driving offenders, so you can expect to see additional police units out and about looking for drunk drivers.

Do not risk a DUI or the lives of others. Always get a safe ride home.

Stay Safe Over Labor Day Weekend & Avoid a DUI Arrest

Labor Day Weekend can be especially dangerous for drivers in Florida and across the country. The NHTSA urges motorists to remember that buzzed driving is drunk driving. Even just one drink can be one drink too many. If you intend to celebrate with alcohol, always make a plan to get home safely. When in doubt, call a friend or a cab.

March 17, 2015

Prevent a DUI Arrest on St. Patrick’s Day

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most dangerous holidays to be on the road. As with most holidays, there is increased law enforcement presence, and there are drunk drivers everywhere. Celebrations on St. Patrick’s Day are notorious for the green beer and other alcoholic beverages. No matter how you choose to celebrate, keep in mind that law enforcement agencies across Florida will be stepping up their efforts to keep the roadways safe.

Saint Patrick’s Day Drunk Driving Facts

From 2009 to 2013, over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, 276 people were killed in drunk driving crashes across the nation.
In 2013 on St. Patrick’s Day, 31 people were killed in drunk driving crashes.
In 2013, two out of five auto accident fatalities over Saint Patrick’s Day weekend involved drunk drivers.
On March 18, 2013, between midnight at 5:59 a.m., 55 percent of crash fatalities involved drunk drivers.

If you plan on celebrating today with green beer or any other form of alcohol, please do not get behind the wheel. If you are going to be drinking any alcohol, make sure you have a plan. Designating a driver ahead of time is a great way to make sure you have a safe ride home. However, sometimes plans fall through, so make sure you have a backup plan, too. Save a local cab company’s number in your phone or download a rideshare app like Uber or Lyft. Law enforcement officers will be out patrolling the roadways, so don’t risk your life, the lives of others, or a potential DUI arrest.

January 15, 2015

Driver Charged with DUI after Fleeing Scene of Crash with Police

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Tavares motorist was arrested on DUI and other charges late Monday after he allegedly crashed into a Mount Dora police car and fled the scene.

The 61-year-old was also charged with failure to remain at a crash and driving with a suspended license. The man remained in the Lake County jail Tuesday in lieu of $20,000 bail.

A Mount Dora city spokeswoman said the officer involved in the accident is not harmed and that the collision left about $5,000 in damages to his vehicle, mostly to the left rear.

The crash occurred at the intersection of U.S. Highway 441 and Limit Avenue in Mount Dora about 9 p.m. Monday.

According to the report, the man was driving a 1999 light gray Chrysler minivan when he turned left into the path of the marked police car. The man then fled the scene.

Tavares police tracked the man’s van down on U.S. 411 near Hill Top Road. He was allegedly asked to perform a number of sobriety tests after officials claim he smelled of alcohol, his eyes were bloodshot and glassy and he staggered when he walked.

He was arrested and transported to Lake County jail.

Leaving the scene of an accident when you are driving under the influence can be a very bad decision that only results in worse consequences. If you are involved in an accident, regardless of your sobriety, the law states that you must stop, offer aid to those in need, and provide your name, address, driver’s license information and vehicle registration. However, it is a human defense mechanism to flee after a harmful incident, and many times drivers are completely unaware that they have caused property damage or hurt anyone.