A Belleview woman has been charged with DUI manslaughter in connection with a single-vehicle crash that claimed the life of a 27-year-old passenger earlier this month.
Early in the morning on Saturday, August 16, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper responded to State Road 35 in Belleview, near the intersection of SE 102nd Place Road, in reference to an accident involving a fatality. Upon arrival, the trooper observed a blue Nissan Altima on the west shoulder that had sustained damage to its passenger side, according to the arrest report.
The trooper noted in the report that a fence to a nearby cemetery was damaged from the single-vehicle crash, and scrape/gouge marks were visible on a tree that the Nissan had struck prior to coming to a final rest.
Inside the Nissan, the trooper observed “six cans of Coors Light” on the “passenger front floorboard.” The report stated that the interior of the vehicle also “smelled of an alcoholic beverage,” which led the trooper to believe that the driver may be “under the influence.”
According to the report, the Nissan’s passenger – identified as 27-year-old Austin Michael Snyder – was ejected from the vehicle during the crash. He was transported to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as 28-year-old Amber Noelle Sacks, was taken to the same hospital. The trooper mentioned in the report that Sacks’ eyes were “watery,” her speech was “slurred,” and there was “an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her breath.”
The trooper made contact with Sacks at the hospital. After being read her Miranda rights, Sacks allegedly stated that she “had two beers” at an Ocala residence a few hours before the crash occurred.
Sacks further told the trooper that she left the residence with Snyder at around 1 a.m. on August 16, and their vehicle was traveling southbound on State Road 35 towards her home. According to the report, Sacks advised that she was looking at Snyder when the vehicle veered off the roadway, resulting in the fatal accident.
While at the hospital, Sacks agreed to perform field sobriety exercises, and the report stated that she “performed poorly.” She also provided two breath samples that allegedly revealed a blood alcohol content of .138 and .124, which is over the legal limit.
Sacks was placed under arrest and booked into Marion County Jail, where she is currently being held without bond. She is being charged with one count of DUI with property damage and one count of DUI manslaughter.
Marion County Court records show that Sacks is being represented by a public defender, and she has entered a written plea of “not guilty.” She is scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 16, for an arraignment hearing.