A DeBary man suspected of driving recklessly on Interstate 75 was arrested Thursday night after crashing his vehicle into a semi-truck.
When a Florida Highway Patrol trooper arrived at the crash near Mile Marker 342 in Marion County, he was told by Marion County Fire Rescue paramedics that 65-year-old Daniel Allen Boland “had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from him.” Boland had been driving a white Chevrolet van that matched the description a motorist had called in earlier for a reckless driver, a FHP report states.
That motorist had stopped at the accident and told the trooper that Boland’s vehicle was “unable to maintain a single lane and subsequently hit the tractor trailer.” He added that when he walked up to the van after the crash, Boland seemed confused, then “became irate and attempted to start an altercation” with the semi driver, the FHP report says.
The semi driver talked to the trooper about the crash but “could not elaborate very well due to a language barrier.” Boland, who was having trouble standing on his own, then told the trooper that didn’t know what had happened, the FHP report says, adding that the trooper smelled alcohol on Boland’s breath and noted that his eyes were bloodshot and glassy.
After the trooper finished his accident investigation, he transported Boland to a nearby rest area to conduct field sobriety tests. Boland failed all five tests and was transported to the Marion County Jail, where he provided a breath sample that showed .158 blood alcohol content. He then refused to provide a second sample, saying “he was not worried about his driver’s license being suspended,” the report says.
Boland was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and DUI property damage. He was released early Saturday morning on $2,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in a Marion County courtroom on Sept. 17 at 1 p.m. to answer to the charges.