Two women popped for driving under the influence of alcohol in separate incidents are getting more jail time after violating the terms of their probation.
A 75-year-old Villager is being held without bond at the Sumter County Detention Center ahead of a Nov. 17 court hearing, Villages-News reports. Also in the county jail is a 63-year-old Gainesville resident charged with DUI and other offenses.
The Villages woman was initially arrested and charged with DUI in June after being pulled over for allegedly driving her Mercedes in the wrong direction on State Road 44. Police reportedly said at the time that several motorists had to move out of the way to avoid being struck by the vehicle.
The woman was convicted and sentenced to probation in August. She first violated the terms of the probation by failing to show up for a work detail, according to Villages-News. After being sent to jail for 11 days as a result, she was busted again for driving the Mercedes to the probation office despite having her license suspended.
Now she will spend at least two months behind bars ahead of the hearing.
The Gainesville woman caught the attention of police after allegedly being clocked traveling at 80 miles per hour on I-75 and swerving through lanes of traffic. A trooper pursued the woman and eventually pulled her over, but she drove off as he approached her vehicle, according to Villages-News. She reportedly sideswiped a Circle K fuel pump in the chase that followed and was eventually apprehended.
The arresting officer reportedly said that the woman smelled strongly of alcohol, appeared disoriented and refused to participate in field sobriety tests. Two open bottles of booze were found in her vehicle and the woman admitted to taking prescription medication that should not be mixed with alcohol, according to Villages News.
The woman has since been jailed for a pair of unidentified probation violations, the news outlet reports.
Drunk Driving Kills
More than 400 people have been killed in accidents involving alcohol-impaired drivers in Florida this year alone, according to data from Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. That is not to mention the nearly 3,000 people injured in those crashes.
Anyone who has been injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver has the right to seek compensation from the driver, his or her insurer and anyone else responsible for the collision.
The money damages available in these cases typically include compensation for medical bills and property damage, as well as for missed wages and any long-term impact on earning capacity. Additional punitive damages - designed to punish those responsible for the accident - may also be available in cases involving particularly reckless behavior.
In the tragic case that a person dies in a car accident, his or her loved ones have the right to seek similar compensation for wrongful death.
Talk with a Villages Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in an aggressive driving or other crash in Florida, Villages accident lawyer Tim Babiarz can help.
Our firm is pleased to represent clients in the Villages and throughout the area, including in Ocala, Leesburg, Lady Lake, Wildwood, Summerfield, and beyond. Call (352) 205-7559 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a Villages accident lawyer.
