A Leesburg man who admitted to drinking six Bud Light beers was charged with DUI after being involved in a two-vehicle crash in Eustis.
Ted James Safavor, 44, was driving south on Mount Homer Road in a white 2015 Audi passenger car at around 11:40 a.m. Tuesday when he ran a stop sign at the intersection with Huffstetler Drive and ran into a red 2021 passenger van. The Audi had heavy front-end damage, while the Toyota was damaged on its front-left side, according to the Florida Highway Patrol report.
The driver of the Toyota said she was traveling east on Huffstetler Drive when Safavor ran through the stop sign and crashed into her. The Eustis Fire Department and Lake County Sheriff’s office also responded and helped move the vehicles into a parking lot behind the Bealls store in the Eustis Village shopping center, the report said.
The officer spoke with Lafavor, who had glassy eyes, slurred his speech, and swayed as he stood the entire time. The smell of alcoholic beverage emanated from his breath, as well, the report said.
Lafavor said he was traveling home from a client’s house and was unfamiliar with the area. He said he didn’t see the stop sign as he approached the intersection and collided with the victim. He admitted that he drank six cans of 12-ounce Bud Light beers between 5 and 11 p.m. the night prior, but he denied drinking anything after that, according to the report.
After Lafavor struggled during field sobriety exercises, the officer concluded he was driving under the influence. Breath tests taken later resulted in readings of 0.282, 0.259 and 0.258 – more than three times the legal limit, the report said.
The Missouri native was arrested and charged with DUI (damage to property). He was transported to the Lake County Jail and released after posting $3,000 bond.
