A Leesburg duck hunter was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence after attempting to back his boat down a launch ramp.
John Parks, 44, was arrested late Tuesday night following the incident at County Road 452 and Cove Road. Two vehicles crashed into his boat and trailer. Lake County sheriff’s deputies directed traffic at the accident site while a Florida Highway Patrol trooper conducted a traffic investigation.
The trooper noted that Parks’ truck and boat trailer were 100 feet north of the boat ramp access and “he would have been backing up into the wood line,” according to the arrest report. The trooper observed an open can of beer in the center console of the truck. The deputy smelled alcohol on Parks’ breath and noted he had some balance issues.
The trooper asked him to perform the standardized field sobriety exercises which he failed. Parks claimed he had brain, spine and other injuries which made it difficult to do the exercises. The trooper placed Parks under arrest for driving under the influence. When he was booked at the Lake County Jail for DUI he gave two breath samples which showed no alcohol in his blood. He provided a urine sample. Bond was set at $2,000.
