A New York man was arrested in Florida after deputies said he struck another vehicle with his Chevrolet truck, drove away from the crash scene, and was later spotted drifting between lanes on a nearby road.
Dariuz Knapik, 59, of Woodbridge, New York, was arrested in Palm Coast on Saturday, October 10, 2026, following a hit-and-run investigation that began shortly before midnight the previous evening.
Deputies reported that Knapik showed several signs of impairment during a traffic stop and struggled to complete field sobriety exercises.
Two breath tests conducted after his arrest produced blood alcohol concentration readings of 0.183 and 0.190, both more than twice Florida’s legal limit of 0.08 for most adult drivers.
A Truck Spotted
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office described the arrest in its October 13 weekend roundup. It documented 13 arrests, 669 calls for service, and 141 traffic stops between Friday evening and early Monday morning.
Shortly before midnight Friday, October 9, deputies responded to Big Horn Drive in Palm Coast to investigate a reported hit-and-run crash. The driver whose vehicle was struck told deputies that the other motorist appeared confused or intoxicated before leaving the scene in a Chevrolet truck.
Deputies searched the area for the truck and spotted it traveling on Belle Terre Parkway. As they watched, the vehicle drifted in and out of its lane, prompting them to conduct a traffic stop.
Knapik was identified as the driver. While speaking with him, deputies noticed a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, bloodshot eyes, and difficulty maintaining his balance. After completing their investigation of the crash, deputies began evaluating whether he was driving under the influence.
During a series of field sobriety exercises, Knapik reportedly had difficulty understanding instructions and was unable to complete multiple exercises.
Two Breath Tests
Deputies arrested Knapik on charges of DUI and DUI causing property damage. Deputies transported him to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he provided two breath samples. The first test registered a BAC of 0.183. The second registered 0.190, nearly 2.4 times Florida’s standard legal driving limit.
Florida law also imposes enhanced DUI penalties for certain offenses involving a BAC of 0.15 or higher, though the exact penalties depend on the charges and any applicable prior convictions.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly criticized the driver’s actions, saying he was fortunate that nobody was injured or killed in the crash.
“This guy was clearly too drunk to be behind the wheel, as he caused a crash then fled the scene,” Staly said. “He’s lucky nobody was hurt or killed, and he earned himself a trip to the Green Roof Inn to sober up.”
The sheriff’s reference to the “Green Roof Inn” is a nickname for the county detention facility. Knapik was booked into the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and later released on a $2,000 bond.
The sheriff’s office identified DUI and DUI causing property damage as his arrest charges. The agency’s release did not identify a separate hit-and-run charge or provide a subsequent court disposition.