ELLISVILLE, Fla. — A Lake Butler man was arrested on a DUI charge early Tuesday after he struck a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle while apparently asleep at the wheel at an Ellisville intersection, authorities said.
Deputies responded at about 4:26 a.m. Oct. 27 to a report of a vehicle stopped at a stop sign at State Road 238 and U.S. Highway 441 with the driver apparently unconscious behind the wheel, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
As deputies tried to make contact, the driver became startled and drove forward, hitting a marked patrol vehicle.
FHP troopers responded and conducted the crash and DUI investigation. Troopers identified the driver as Devon Smith, 26.
Smith was arrested and taken to the Columbia County Jail, where he provided a breath sample about 1.5 hours after the crash.
The sample showed a blood alcohol content of 0.165, more than twice the legal limit, according to the sheriff’s office.
No injuries were reported.
Smith was charged with DUI with property damage.
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