A Clermont man was arrested for DUI after admitting to drinking two beers before crashing into another vehicle.
Officers responded to a crash on Sandhill View Drive and State Road 50 on Tuesday afternoon, according to an arrest report from the Clermont Police Department. While handing paperwork to one of the drivers, 43-year-old Andre Kazan, an officer noticed he was possibly impaired.
More specifically, his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and his eyelids drooped. His speech was low and raspy, and he spoke with a thick tongue. His words were muffled and slightly difficult to understand. That, coupled with the smell of alcohol on his breath, led the officer to begin a DUI investigation, the report said.
Kazan agreed to participate in field sobriety exercises, although for one of them, he stated he could not do it “even on a regular day.” He added that even on a sober day, he could not stand on one leg. For the rest of the exercises, he lost his balance and did not follow instructions, the report said.
Due to his performance, the officer concluded Kazan was under the influence. They were waiting for a transport vehicle to take him to jail when he began talking about how many beers he had. He stated he had two beers before going to Publix, getting some food and “chit chatting” with people from the store, the report said.
He then became emotional, saying he “never meant to hit that guy” and that he tried to brake but did not have time. He later provided two breath samples of 0.308g/210L and 0.291g/210L, the report said.
Kazan was charged with DUI and driving while license suspended for DUI. The native of Guyana was booked at the Lake County Jail and released after posting $5,000 bond.