DAVENPORT, Fla. – An Orlando man was arrested after driving drunk with no license and crashing into a police officer’s patrol car overnight.
Police say that on Monday at approximately 1:35 a.m., Davenport Police Officer Gerald Michel was patrolling South Blvd. in Davenport.
While traveling eastbound on South Blvd, Officer Michel noticed a pick-up truck approaching him traveling westbound, but in Officer Michel’s lane of traffic.
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In an effort to avoid a head-on collision, Officer Michel took evasive action, however the right front area of the truck collided with the passenger side of Officer Michel’s patrol vehicle. The truck immediately fled the scene.
At approximately 1:44 a.m., Polk County Sheriff’s deputies located the truck and its driver, identified as 21-year-old Jose Enrique Hernandez-Gonazalez of Orlando, on Hwy. 17/92 at Providence Blvd in unincorporated Davenport.
Davenport Police officers spoke with Hernandez-Gonzalez, who acknowledged striking “something hard” with his vehicle, but he did not stop because he didn’t know what he hit. He further admitted to drinking alcoholic beverages at a family party prior to the crash.
As a result of the investigation, Hernandez-Gonazalez was arrested by Davenport Police and charged with Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Property Damage. He was also charged by Polk County Sheriff’s Office with DUI and Operating a Motor Vehicle with No Driver’s License.
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Neither Officer Michel nor Hernandez-Gonzalez were injured as a result of the crash.
“We are grateful that Officer Michel was not injured by Hernandez-Gonzalez’s selfish actions to drive while intoxicated, and on top of that, without a driver’s license. This incident certainly could have ended a lot worse. It’s a very simple concept don’t drink and drive,” said Davenport Police Chief Steve Parker
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