GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 72-year-old man was taken into custody on Saturday night for striking two pedestrians and fleeing the accident scene twice, all while being intoxicated with alcohol.
The man, identified as Steven Collins, was apprehended by Florida Highway Patrol Troopers after he fled the scene of a hit-and-run for the second time.
According to the troopers, Collins had hit two pedestrians with his white SUV on SE County Road 234 and then fled the scene. A passerby saw the incident and chased after Collins, convincing him to return to the accident site.
Upon returning to the scene, Collins got back into his car and fled once more. The same passerby continued to follow Collins until Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Deputies intervened and stopped him at the Northbound exit of I-75 to Archer Road.
Troopers noted that Collins declined to take a field sobriety test, but his breath smelled strongly of alcohol, and he displayed bloodshot eyes and slurred speech.
Additionally, he refused to provide a breath sample for testing. As a result, Collins has been charged with one count of felony DUI, two counts of felony hit-and-run, and one count of misdemeanor DUI.
The victims of the hit-and-run received medical treatment for their injuries at UF Health Shands.
