A man who admitted he had been drinking at the Copperhead Lodge Saloon in Leesburg allegedly fled the scene of a crash on U.S. Hwy. 441.
Matthew Herold, 46, of Leesburg, was driving a Lexus early Sunday morning when when he made an improper lane change and collided with a Lincoln SUV, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. Rather than stopping, Herold drove to East Main Street and Sunnyside Drive where he parked the Lexus and ran. He was apprehended a few blocks away, thanks in part to a description provided by the driver of the Lincoln SUV. He said the driver of the Lexus had been wearing blue jeans, a plaid shirt and cowboy boots.
Herold admitted to the improper lane change which caused the accident and said he had been drinking at the Copperhead Lodge Saloon with some friends.
He failed field sobriety tests and provided breath samples that measured .028 and .023 blood alcohol content. Officers asked for a urine sample, but the West Virginia native refused to provide the sample.
He was arrested on charges of driving under the influence with property damage and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. He was booked at the Lake County Jail and released after posting $2,000 bond.
