There are plenty of bad places to get pulled over for a DUI. An active traffic homicide investigation is probably near the top of that list.
According to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, one Florida driver ignored deputies who had closed a roadway for a fatal crash investigation and drove straight into the restricted area anyway.
Deputies say they had to run after the vehicle before finally getting it to stop. Once they made contact with the driver, they quickly began noticing several signs of possible impairment.
What started as an already dangerous situation became even worse after investigators learned the same vehicle had reportedly been called in by another driver just moments earlier.
Deputies Say the Driver Went Around an Active Fatal Crash Investigation
According to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were assisting the Florida Highway Patrol with a traffic homicide investigation when the incident occurred. The roadway had been closed while troopers investigated the fatal crash, and deputies were stationed nearby to keep motorists out of the area.
Sheriff Wayne Ivey said a vehicle driven by Lauren Anderson attempted to drive around the road closure despite deputies yelling for the driver to stop. Officials said Anderson continued past them, forcing deputies to give chase before eventually bringing the vehicle to a stop.
Once deputies made contact, they reported that Anderson appeared sluggish, slurred her speech, and struggled to exit the vehicle.
Breath Test Results Were More Than Twice Florida’s Legal Limit
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies asked Anderson to perform field sobriety exercises, which she declined.
After being transported to the Brevard County Jail, Anderson agreed to provide breath samples. Sheriff Ivey said the results measured 0.195 and 0.209, both more than twice Florida’s legal blood alcohol concentration limit of 0.08.
Investigators also learned that, shortly before deputies encountered the vehicle, another motorist had reportedly called authorities to report a suspected impaired driver after witnessing the same vehicle strike a construction barrier along Interstate 95.
Sheriff Says the Arrest May Have Prevented Something Worse
Sheriff Ivey praised deputies for removing the impaired driver from the roadway before anyone else was injured.
Using his trademark humor, he joked that Anderson was checked into “Ivey’s Iron Bar Lodge” for the night, complete with a complimentary booking photo and an uncomfortable bed to sleep it off.
Behind the jokes, however, the sheriff delivered a serious message. He commended deputies for safely bringing the incident to an end and reminded drivers never to get behind the wheel after drinking, especially when impaired driving can put first responders and members of the public at risk during an already active fatal crash investigation.