A Leesburg man was arrested on a warrant Wednesday for rear-ending a vehicle at a stop light and fleeing to his apartment last month.
On Dec. 17, 2024, an officer with the Leesburg Police Department responded to U.S. Highway 441 and County Road 44 Leg A regarding a vehicle crash wherein an involved party, later identified as 54-year-old Daryl Wayne Haley, fled the scene, according to an affidavit of probable cause out of Lake County.
The officer arrived on scene and met with two involved drivers. The first driver advised that after being in the crash, the at-fault vehicle fled the scene. She followed the vehicle to a nearby apartment complex, later identified as Blueberry Hill Apartments, located at 33230 Ryan Dr. The other driver contacted law enforcement in the meantime, the affidavit said.
After arriving at the apartment, she contacted Haley, the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. She could “smell the alcohol” and advised him of his involvement in a crash. He gave her his driver’s license, registration and insurance, all of which she photographed. He then returned to his residence while she was advised by communications officers to standby near the scene of the crash, the affidavit said.
The driver gave communications officers the license plate of the vehicle, and it returned to a Chevrolet pickup truck registered to Haley. He also identified himself as such via his license, the affidavit said.
The first driver advised that she was stopped at a red traffic signal at the intersection of U.S. Highway 441 and County Road 44. The second driver stated he was stopped at the same traffic signal directly behind her. His vehicle was impacted by a truck, causing him to hit the rear of her vehicle, the affidavit said.
There was significant damage to the front and rear of the second driver’s vehicle and significant damage to the back of the first driver’s vehicle. The second driver reported minor injuries consisting of neck pain while the first driver reported no injury. The former declined evaluation by EMS. Both vehicles were functional and removed from the scene by their respective drivers, the affidavit said.
The officer responded to the apartments, led by the first driver, who pointed out the vehicle and building which Haley retreated to. The officer observed a gray Chevrolet which had moderate front end damage that appeared fresh. He tried to contact Haley, but he did not come to the door, the affidavit said.
Haley was ultimately arrested Wednesday evening by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant charging him with leave scene of crash with injury. He was also issued a uniform traffic citation for careless driving. He was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $5,000.