Lake County Sheriff's Office has arrested a boater on a criminal charge of boating under the influence after he allegedly crashed his boat into a dock on Lake Harris. The defendant and driver of the boat, 51-year old Leesburg resident Michael Robert Smith, had to be rushed to the hospital for the treatment of injuries related to the crash. After the doctors released Smith from medical care, officers took him into custody on charges of BUI.
The defendant told police that he fell asleep while driving the boat before colliding with the private dock. Witnesses have also reported that a woman was present on the vessel at the time of the crash. A helicopter and marine patrol searched the area without luck. The authorities do not believe anyone to be in the water and rather the woman in question fled the scene on foot.
Witnesses have also reported seeing Smith attempting to pull his boat away from the dock wreckage. Officers caught up with the defendant a few houses away from the crash site. Officers with the Florida Conservation Commission noticed Smith smelled of alcohol, slurred his speech and acted impaired. The defendant refused to submit to a breathalyzer test and subsequently arrested.
With the abundance and popularity of Florida's waterways, visitors and residents take full advantage of fun in the sun. However, serious criminal consequences can result when alcohol and a day on the water is mixed. If you or a loved one has been charged with the crime of boating under the influence, contact the experienced attorneys at Musca Law for a free, comprehensive review of your case.
