A Grand Island man was arrested for DUI after his involvement in a crash on the way home from drinking at the Dirty South Saloon.
A trooper responded to a two-vehicle crash in the area of County Road 44 and Forest Drive in Leesburg at around 6:05 p.m. Friday, April 4, according to an arrest report from the Florida Highway Patrol. Upon arrival, he found 63-year-old George Lee Heider and the female victim in the parking lot of 10830 CR 44 with a deputy from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The trooper first looked at the victim’s vehicle, a black 2020 Nissan Rogue with rear end damage. The victim stated she had been stopped eastbound on County Road 44 for traffic approaching the stop light at the intersection of Forest Drive. As the traffic light cycled, she and the traffic ahead began to accelerate, the report said.
At that point, a black 2015 Dodge Ram came up from behind and struck the rear of the victim’s vehicle. The trooper then observed the truck, which had front end damage. The victim identified this truck as the one that hit her. Directly after the collision, the victim got out of her vehicle and saw Heider leave the driver’s seat of his, the report said.
The trooper next talked to Heider who spoke with a slurred, mumbled speech. He leaned against his vehicle, had glassy watery eyes, continually interrupted himself when trying to recall details and repeated himself. He also had an odor of alcoholic beverage coming from his breath, the report said.
When asked where he was coming from, Heider stated Dirty South Saloon, located at 1850 U.S. Hwy. 441, Leesburg, and indicated he would blow into a breathalyzer. He stated he did not mean to hit the other vehicle. The other vehicle was slow to move forward, and he was not sure why the crash happened, the report said.
Heider reiterated he was coming from the Dirty South Saloon back to his residence when the crash happened. He admitted to having six bottles of Budlight beer during the hour he was at the saloon. As a result, he was asked to participate in field sobriety exercises, to which he agreed, the report said.
During the exercises, Heider continually swayed, needed instructions repeated several times and repeatedly wanted to restart the exercises. He did not perform the exercises satisfactorily, and based on the circumstances, the trooper concluded he was under the influence. He later provided breath samples of 0.190g/210L and 0.184g/210L, the report said.
Heider was arrested on charge of DUI (damage to property or person of another) and transported to Lake County Jail. He was released after posting $1,500 bond.