JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Despite the ongoing warnings about drinking and driving on New Year’s, Action News Jax obtained a new video showing officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responding to a reported drunk driver.
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The incident happened around 7:30 PM on New Year’s Eve in front of The Shops in Avondale.
A local realtor, Ari Pinto, captured video of the scene. He said he heard a loud boom and then saw it was from a large pickup truck that plowed into a Kia Soul.
He told Action News Jax Shanila Kabir that it was obvious the man driving the truck was drunk.
“He was not very coherent. He was trying to talk himself out of the whole accident and he was trying to leave. One other gentleman was like you are not going anywhere and then the driver was on the floor,” said Pinto.
The driver is identified as 43-year-old Justin Jeffers.
An arrest report said Jeffers was heavily intoxicated with slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. JSO said that off-duty officers pinned Jeffers down until other officers arrived.
They said Jeffers was trying to leave the scene.
“This guy was wrestling, that’s why two men were trying to pin his feet down because he was not in a sober state of mind. He was face down and being on the ground is what caused blood, not the impact,” said Pinto.
The driver who was rear-ended, Annette King said she is now in constant pain from this crash. She said she has no car, and she cannot work. Meanwhile, she needs to provide for her daughter, who is expecting a baby.
“My chest hit the steering wheel so hard. It’s hard for me to move around. I can’t smile, I can’t laugh, I can’t cry because everything hurts,” said King.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said it made 5 DUI arrests on New Year’s Eve and 12 total DUI arrests on New Year’s Day.
“New Year’s is filled with alcohol and food and things we love. That’s our celebration but do it at home. There’s no reason to be on the road that night,” said King.
Action News Jax dug into the suspect’s criminal history and found this was at least Jeffer’s 7th arrest in Duval County dating back to 2004. Other arrests included battery and parole violations.
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