EUSTIS, Florida—A drunk driver whose BAC was nearly three times the legal limit, caused quite a commotion Wednesday night during the dinner hour when he lost control of his truck and crashed into a tree in front a popular pizza and sub shop in downtown Eustis.
Cameron Mitchell Smith, 29, of Leesburg, was arrested for DUI after Eustis Police responded to the reported crash in front of El Marie Pizzeria and Sub Shoppe, 200 North Bay Street just before 6:45 p.m., according to an arrest affidavit.
Witnesses said they saw Smith leave the parking lot of Crazy Gator, 402 North Bay Street, almost striking Lake Mechanical Contractor’s brick building and then slowing for the green light at Bay Street and Clifford Avenue. Smith “hit the gas” and began speeding toward El Marie Pizzeria and Sub Shoppe and finally crashed into the tree.
EPD arrived and found a blue pickup truck stuck on a large tree in front of the restaurant; Smith told officers he was traveling southbound on Bay Street when he lost control due to wet conditions and bald tires. Lake EMS and Eustis Fire Department arrived on scene to check Smith’s condition and he reportedly told a firefighter he drank two beers prior to the crash and police “were going to grab him,” the affidavit states.
Smith refused to perform field sobriety exercises and was handcuffed; after being handcuffed he began “begging, advising officers that he did not hear them,” the affidavit states. Officers took the handcuffs off Smith, and he had difficulty keeping his head still and refused to listen to instructions, the arresting officer noted.
Smith was transported to EPD and agreed to a breath test; he provided two samples for blood alcohol concentration (BAC,) one came in at .233 and the second, .229—nearly three times the legal limit of .08.
Smith, who has a prior DUI conviction from Pennsylvania, was arrested for DUI and cited for not having insurance and carless driving. He was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on $1,000 bond.
