A 47-year-old Tavernier man was arrested by Florida Highway Patrol deputies at a Holiday Inn in Key Largo three days after he allegedly caused damage to multiple vehicles and sent one man to the hospital with critical injuries. He now faces several charges, including one count of felony DUI. The incidents that led to the Thursday arrest occurred mid-morning on a recent Monday.
According to FHP crash investigators, the accused man was speeding along southbound U.S. 1 when his sedan rear-ended an SUV, sending it across the median and into the lanes of northbound traffic. There, the SUV struck another car, and although that driver managed to stop on the road’s shoulder, the damage continued. The SUV was still out of control and entered a hardware store’s parking lot where it came to a halt after smashing into two more vehicles.
In the meantime, troopers allege that the Tavernier man continued after striking the SUV and hit a motorcyclist after veering into the left turn lane. The impact caused the biker to fly onto the car’s windshield before he fell to the ground. Authorities say the man remains in the hospital in critical condition. Reportedly, law enforcement drew the driver’s blood at the scene and then arrested him when the blood test results became available.
The situation in which this driver finds himself could have severe consequences. Other drivers facing felony DUI and other related charges would likely waste no time in seeking the support and guidance of an experienced Florida criminal defense attorney. Having legal counsel in one’s corner from the start can not only prevent violations of the defendant’s legal rights, but a lawyer can also devise a defense strategy that might lead to a favorable outcome for the accused driver.
