A Lakeland man who was driving drunk on Sunday when he killed three people and seriously injured another, was arrested today, Polk County deputies said.
Edward Casey McCoy, 21, was taken into custody Thursday and charged with DUI counts leading to the deaths of three people, one count of DUI leading to serious bodily injury and DUI with damage, among other charges.
Witnesses told investigators, McCoy, was speeding southbound on Coronet Road early on Sunday morning when he crashed into a 2006 Chrysler Sebring, but not before running through a stop sign at the intersection of Shepherd Road. McCoy’s 2000 GMC Sierra truck struck the Chrysler causing both vehicles to roll over on their roofs.
Dorothy Operhall, the driver of the Chrysler, Melina Helbig, the front seat passenger and Leonard Simmons, a rear passenger were killed. Robert Helbig another passenger in the vehicle sustained serious injuries.
McCoy’s blood alcohol level was .234, well above the legal limit, investigators said. Investigators confirmed that he was at a bar the night before and had consumed 6 beers, 4 wild turkey shots and one fireball, within a matter of four hours before getting behind the wheel of his truck.
Investigators also found a pipe which tested positive for cannabis in McCoy’s pants pocket.
McCoy was arrested earlier on Thursday and booked into the Polk County Jail.
