A Florida DUI suspect is out on bond after Marion County deputies said he crashed into a power pole, brought down live wires, and indirectly injured a motorcyclist, according to WCJB. The crash happened Wednesday on Southeast 100th Avenue near Lake Weir. Deputies said the crash caused about $22,000 in damage.
The suspect was identified as Ocala’s 38-year-old Kevin Daniel Burge. Deputies initially responded to a call at 6:05 a.m. after reports of a crash and a power outage in Summerfield. There, they found Burge’s vehicle off the east side of the roadway in the woods.
The crash snapped a power pole in half and left power lines downed and stretched across the road. A motorcycle driver, identified as Jeremy Salas, struck the downed wires and crashed. Deputies said Salas injured his left arm and suffered cuts and abrasions to his wrist as part of the crash.
Burge was booked into the Marion County Jail at 11:42 a.m. on June 17, according to Marion County Sheriff’s Office booking information reviewed by Guessing Headlights. He was then released at 3 a.m. on June 18. His jail booking records list two misdemeanor counts of DUI-unlawful blood alcohol, DUI, and damage property. Each charge came with a respective $1,000 bond.
What Deputies Said Happened in Summerfield
Deputies said the initial crash left Burge’s vehicle in the woods and damaged several pieces of utility infrastructure. According to Voice of South Marion, the crash caused an estimated $20,000 in damage to SECO Energy infrastructure. The arrest report also listed about $1,000 in damage to Comcast equipment and another $1,000 in damage to a nearby fence.
The downed lines then created a second hazard for drivers on Southeast 100th Avenue. Salas was riding a motorcycle when he hit the wires and lost control, according to the report. WCJB reported that he was injured, though it did not provide additional details about his condition.
What the Arrest Report Said About the DUI Allegation
Investigators said Burge showed signs of impairment after the crash. According to Voice of South Marion, deputies reported slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and difficulty maintaining his balance. Deputies also said they documented multiple clues of impairment during field sobriety exercises.
Voice of South Marion reported that breath samples later registered .184 and .179. Deputies also said Burge told them he had been drinking Mike’s Hard Lemonade while working an overnight shift at a Circle K store. According to the report, he initially said he drank four before later saying he had six during the shift.