A Leesburg man was caught driving with a suspended license after running a red light and causing an accident in Eustis.
An officer responded to a traffic accident involving 44-year-old Paul St. John Martin at the intersection of U.S. Highway 441 and South Kurt Street at about 11:04 a.m. Saturday, according to an arrest report from the Eustis Police Department.
According to the driver of the other vehicle and two witnesses, Martin’s vehicle was traveling eastbound on Highway 441 and failed to stop for a red light and collided with the other vehicle, which was going north on Kurt Street on a green light. The second vehicle sustained significant damage to the front-left fender and was disabled, the report said.
Martin’s vehicle sustained minor damage to the front bumper. He told the officer the light was yellow at the time of the accident. Martin also said he didn’t have a license and was only driving because his wife was not well and he had just left the hospital, according to the report.
After running Martin’s information, the officer learned his license was indeed not valid and suspended for failure to appear in court on June 13. Four more offenses dating back to 2018 were also listed, the report said.
Martin was charged with driving while license suspended (with knowledge) and issued a citation for running a red light. He was taken to the Lake County Jail with bond set at $1,000.
