Florida DUI Attorney :: Jacksonville Man Charged with DUI After Passing Out: Daughter, 5, Guides Car Off the Road

May 5, 2011

A 5-year-old Jacksonville, Florida girl got behind the wheel of her father’s 2010 Chevy Camaro and attempted to get off the road after he supposedly passed out in the driver’s seat Tuesday.

The car cut across another vehicle’s traffic lane, hopped a curb and landed in a parking lot. The girl then plowed over some shrubs and plants and ran over a parking sign before she could get the vehicle to fully stop. No serious injuries were sustained.

According to The Florida Times-Union, the girl’s nose and lower lip were bleeding when police arrived. The young girl and her father were supposedly locked inside the vehicle and she was coaxed out of the car by the driver of the car she almost collided with.

Police arrived after the 6:50 p.m. accident occurred and allegedly found the 40-year-old father unresponsive and staring at the ceiling. He supposedly told police he had taken Oxycodone and Xanax earlier in the day.

In addition to DUI while accompanied by a minor, the man was charged with driving under the influence and causing damage, careless driving, and two counts of driving without wearing a seat belt. The man’s bail was set at $3,000.

A family member picked up the young girl.

Driving under the influence of alcohol in combination with Xanax, or even by itself, can be a deadly combination on Florida roadways. According to medical statistics, nearly 37.5 million prescriptions for Xanax were written last year, which is an increase of nearly 8 million prescriptions from 2005. Xanax is commonly known as alprazolam and prescribed to treat panic disorders. Xanax does exacerbate the intoxicating effect of alcohol and the pill can create an exhilarated feeling within users, making it all the rage for individuals seeking a quick “high.”

When a Florida law enforcement agent arrives on a scene where a DUI involving drugs is suspected, an attempt may be made to use the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) or eye test to indicate impairment from the use of drugs or a controlled substance. A DUI blood or urine test could also show a presence of drugs or alcohol in a person’s system. All of the above tests, any observations made by the officer and any admissions of guilt made by the suspect can all be admissible in a court of law. The best thing to do following a DUI arrest is to contact an experienced Florida DUI Attorney, no matter what the specifics are to your DUI charge.

If you or someone you know has been arrested for DUI anywhere throughout the state of Florida, contact the Florida DUI Lawyers at the Law Offices of Whittel & Melton, LLC online or call 352-666-2121or 1-866-608-5LAW (5529).