A 3-year-old was hit by a vehicle on a Central Florida beach.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s office recently reported the 3-year-old boy was struck by a Jeep on the beach. Witnesses reported the 3-year-old was running across the traffic lanes from the ocean and darted in front of the Jeep, which struck him at low speed.
Volusia Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the incident on the beach near the University Boulevard parking lot. The victim was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center as a trauma alert due to his age, and later discharged with injuries that did not require surgery.
The driver of the Jeep, identified as 36-year-old Brock Winkler, of Lakeland, remained on scene for the crash investigation, which found that the crash occurred due to the child darting into the traffic lane.
Local law enforcement stated multiple witnesses advised Winkler had been drinking prior to the crash. A photo was provided of several empty beer cans left behind where he was parked.
Volusia Sheriff’s Office deputies initiated a DUI investigation, conducted field sobriety exercises, and found probable cause to charge Winkler with DUI with serious bodily injury. According to law enforcement, Winkler refused to submit to a breath test, resulting in an additional charge of refusal to submit to DUI testing.
He was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail.
