EUSTIS, Florida—A 62-year-old woman suspected of DUI caused a three-vehicle crash, fled the scene and was captured by Eustis Police after a witness followed her May 31, according to an arrest affidavit.
Elfriede Schafer Stewart is accused driving a dark-colored Porsche and rear-ending a white GMC that caused another collision with a gold Chevy shortly before 1:15 p.m. near County Road 19A and U.S. Highway 441 last Tuesday, according to the affidavit.
Stewart, of Eustis, fled the scene with the Porsche’s hood up obstructing her view, and a witness followed her to Eustis Plaza, less than a mile away. The witness told EPD she saw the crash and followed the Porsche into the parking lot where it almost hit another vehicle, and then parked. Stewart exited the vehicle, closed the hood and got back into the vehicle. The witness then saw Stewart open a small bottle of alcohol, took a sip and went into Hometown Market, 401 Plaza Drive. AS EPD arrived Stewart, unsteady on her feet, exited the store, according to the affidavit.
Stewart told police she did not hit a vehicle and only hit the roadway and she was taken into custody for leaving the scene of a crash. Officers searched her vehicle and found a small empty bottle of vodka, a half-empty bottle of vodka and a cup that smelled that alcohol. Stewart was taken to EPD, where she was unable to complete field sobriety exercises and she was arrested for DUI, in addition to leaving the scene of a crash.
She was transported to the Lake County Jail, where she was released on $1,500 bond.
