It seems Monday mornings are just not meant for driving, at least not for 26-year-old Ronald Sturchio of the “Sunshine State” (where apparently, the sun wasn’t shining on him this particular Monday).
Our story begins with a minor fender bender in Winter Haven around 10:00 a.m., near the intersection of Recker Highway and Avenue G NW. A Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputy arrived on the scene to investigate, likely expecting a routine exchange of insurance information and a few scribbled diagrams. But oh no, this was no ordinary Monday morning crash.
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Enter Ronald, one of the drivers involved, who, when asked for his driver’s license, responded with a casual, “Uh, I don’t have a Florida license, but maybe I have one from New Mexico? Not really sure, though.” (Because who needs to keep track of such trivial details like, you know, the legal ability to operate a motor vehicle?)
But wait, there’s more! It turns out the vehicle Ronald was driving was also missing a rather crucial component: a license plate. “Oh, that,” Ronald explained, “Yeah, I bought the car in New Mexico but never got around to registering it.” (Priorities, people! Netflix subscriptions over registration, obviously.) And of course, insurance? Nah, who needs that when you’re living life on the edge (and possibly on the run)?
As if things couldn’t get any more interesting, a quick check revealed that the car Ronald was so casually driving had been reported stolen from New Mexico back in April. (Plot twist!)
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And the cherry on top of this Monday morning sundae of misfortune? The crash occurred because Ronald, like many of us, was engrossed in the fascinating world of his cell phone while driving, causing him to rear-end another vehicle. (Distracted driving: it’s not just a bad idea, it’s a crime…and apparently a gateway to grand theft auto.)
So, Ronald Sturchio was arrested and taken to the Polk County Jail, where he was charged with a delightful assortment of offenses, including possession of a stolen vehicle, driving without a license, operating a vehicle without registration, and driving without insurance. It seems Mr. Sturchio’s Monday morning mishap turned into a full-blown legal misadventure. Perhaps next time he’ll opt for a nice walk instead.
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