A Florida man who was allegedly intoxicated hit three vehicles while trying to make a right-hand turn. Police took the 53-year-old unemployed man into custody on charges of drunk driving. The arresting officer said the man smelled of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet.
Witnesses say the man was driving southbound on a public street when he attempted to turn right into a supermarket parking lot. He reportedly swung his Ford sedan too wide and struck a car waiting to make a left-hand turn onto another street. Witnesses said the driver then accelerated and collided with the rear end of a van. At that point, witnesses say the driver apparently over corrected by turning his steering wheel too far to the right and crashed into a parked Toyota.
After striking the Toyota, the driver allegedly got out of his Ford and calmly walked into the supermarket. Police arrived soon after that. They say he came out of the store carrying a bottle of vodka about the same time they arrived. Police took the unopened bottle of vodka. Paramedics examined the driver and told police he was not injured. He allegedly refused to submit to a breath test at that time. However, there is no word on whether a blood test was later administered.
Police took him to jail on charges of drunk driving, refusal to submit to DUI testing, damage to property or a person and failure to show valid insurance. Bond was set at $3,100. These DUI and other charges the driver faces could be serious. However, although it is important to curb the dangers of drunk driving, it is also important to protect the constitutional rights of drivers accused of DUI.
Source: Sun Sentinel, “Drunken driver hit three cars on his way to the liquor store, cops say”, Erika Pesantes and Robert Nolin, June 04, 2013