BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Florida Highway Patrol troopers have arrested a man accused of DUI in a crash that sent a 1-year-old and two others to the hospital in Brevard County.
According to an FHP arrest report, a trooper was dispatched around 11:16 p.m. on Friday to a two-vehicle crash on northbound Interstate 95 near mile marker 190, south of exits to Wickham Road. All lanes of I-95 were shut down due to the crash, which involved a Lexus ES 350 F Sport with heavy front-end damage and a Toyota Camry which had overturned multiple times, the report states.
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Troopers said the Lexus was traveling north on I-95, approaching mile marker 190 in the center lane. The Camry was traveling in the same direction, directly in front of the Lexus.
According to the report, the Lexus driver, identified as 25-year-old Thomas Roberts Jr., “failed to use due care” by failing to slow down as it approached the Camry. As a result, the right front bumper collided with the left rear bumper of the Camry. The Lexus them came to a stop on the left shoulder of the interstate, before mile marker 191.
Troopers said after the initial collision, the Camry ran off of the road to the right and began to overturn in the grass median before then crashing into a traffic sign. The vehicle came to final rest on its left side off of I-95, just before , before mile marker 191.
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According to the report, troopers said the Lexus was estimated to have been traveling about 100 mph in a 70 mph zone before the crash.
“While speaking to Mr. Roberts about the crash I observed him to have bloodshot watery red eyes, a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath which got stronger as he spoke and a thick slurred speech,” the report read in part.
Troopers said Roberts also appeared very anxious and had a hard time explaining what happened.
According to the report, a Life Flight helicopter was brought in to fly an injured 1-year-old in the Camry to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. The child was later reported to be alert and stable.
A second passenger in the Camry was transported to Holmes Regional Medical as a trauma alert. The passenger was reported as being alert and stable, but had a severe head injury along with a broken clavicle and a broken leg.
Troopers said a third passenger was sent to Viera Hospital with “soft tissue” injuries.
According to the report, Roberts was asked to complete non-standard field sobriety tests since he said he injured his knee in the crash. After failing the exercises, he was placed under arrest on Saturday at 12:17 a.m. for being “under the influence of an intoxicant.”
When asked to submit to a breath sample, troopers said Roberts only replied with “Lawyer.”
Troopers said Roberts was taken to the hospital for a blood draw and then transported to the Brevard County jail.
He faces charges of DUI causing serious bodily injury to another, three counts of DUI property damage, three counts of DUI causing injury to another person and reckless driving causing serious bodily injury to another.
Note: This map depicts the general area of this crash and not necessarily its exact location.
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