DUI Charges after Car Crashes and Creates Sinkhole in Summerfield

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on March 20, 2019

Alcohol is believed to be the major contributing role to a drunk driver accident that occurred in Summerfield this past Friday, the 15th of March, and resulted in an individual almost being swallowed by a sinkhole. According to reports from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened sometime around 2:00 in the morning, close to the intersection of U.S. 441 and SE 156 Place within the town of Summerfield. The initial call to the emergency center was placed by a woman who had either witnessed the incident or stumbled upon it shortly after it took place. This woman was with her adult son, and the two of them became increasingly concerned about the well-being of the person driving the car.

Before this, a 21-year-old driving a 2004 Buick Century was headed down U.S. 441 when they lost control of their vehicle and struck a fire hydrant. Somehow, through this process, a sinkhole was created and the car then became partially stuck in the sinkhole that stretched around 20 feet wide as well as being 8 feet deep. When the woman and her son reached the area they noted that the 21-year-old was either inside the car or standing nearby. What happened next is somewhat foggy, but it seems as though the woman and her son suddenly lost sight of the 21-year-old and became concerned that she was somehow stuck beneath the car.

The woman ran to the car to look for the 21-year-old and then became stuck. Her son approached and tried to pull his mother out. It seems that while this was happening the 21-year-old rushed back to the vehicle and jumped in, reportedly in an attempt to shut the passenger door. It is not clear why the 21-year-old felt that this was a necessary action, but the wording of the report indicated that if the door was closed that the woman who had rushed to save the 21-year-old would have become trapped beneath the vehicle. The woman and her son therefore fought the 21-year-old for control of the car’s door, eventually succeeding in preventing it from being closed and thus saving the life of the woman.

Deputies with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office were on the scene shortly afterwards and they arrested the 21-year-old on suspicion of drunken driving.

Sources:

• Hole swallows car after woman hits hydrant in DUI crash, FHP says

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.