A Florida woman’s DUI arrest is going viral online after deputies said they found her sitting beside a crashed Hyundai near Streamsong Golf Resort surrounded by dozens of miniature alcohol bottles.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a single-vehicle crash on May 14 near the resort outside Bowling Green, Florida. When a deputy arrived, they found a red 2018 Hyundai sitting on a sidewalk with 34-year-old Erika Mayer of Palmetto seated nearby.
The situation became even stranger after a witness told deputies they had watched the Hyundai being driven across portions of the golf course before the vehicle eventually came to a stop. Deputies said Mayer appeared incoherent, had slurred speech, and struggled to maintain her balance during the investigation.
Deputies said Mayer denied consuming alcohol despite the odor of alcohol allegedly being present on her breath. A search of the vehicle uncovered an unopened 10-pack of 50-milliliter Fireball Cinnamon Whisky bottles, 21 opened mini bottles of Fireball, and two empty bottles of 99 Brand liqueur.
Deputies also said Mayer refused to participate in standardized field sobriety tests and declined to provide breath samples. Investigators noted she told deputies her refusal was based on advice she received from friends and social media.
Fireball Somehow Became the Main Character
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single-vehicle crash on May 14, 2026 at around 6:54 pm, in the area of Streamsong Golf Resort near Bowling Green.
When the deputy arrived, she found a red 2018 Hyundai on a sidewalk, and a woman sitting next to the vehicle.
The… pic.twitter.com/5MioK63JBv
— Polk County Sheriff 🚔 Grady Judd (@PolkCoSheriff) May 19, 2026
As the sheriff’s office post spread online, commenters became fixated on one specific detail: the sheer amount of Fireball found in and around the vehicle.
“That damn Fireball,” one commenter joked. Another user simply asked, “Who drinks Fireball?”
Others were less amused. One commenter argued DUI cases should carry far harsher penalties, writing, “Can’t we bump DUIs up to attempted murder? It’s not an accident, you decide to drink, every sip is a chance to stop.”
One person identifying themselves as a recovering alcoholic said they “couldn’t get past the photo of all the little bottles and HOW MUCH ALCOHOL IS LEFT.”
The Internet Did What the Internet Always Does
Like many viral Florida stories, the comment section quickly spiraled into complete chaos.
“So what you are saying is that Erika likes to party,” one commenter wrote.
Another user added, “I can fix her.”
Others debated whether the story was funny at all, while some turned the discussion into broader arguments about Florida culture, drinking habits, and social media glamorizing reckless behavior.
Charges Filed Following Investigation
Following the investigation, Mayer was arrested and booked into jail. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, she was charged with DUI, DUI with property damage, and refusing to submit to DUI testing.
Authorities also issued citations for failure to drive in a single lane and possession of an open container inside a vehicle.
For better or worse, the bizarre combination of a golf course drive, dozens of Fireball mini bottles, a crashed Hyundai on a sidewalk, and sobriety test refusals quickly turned the incident into peak Florida internet content.