INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 34-year-old Ocala driver was jailed over the weekend after deputies said he ran a red light and struck a patrol car.
Alexander Mckinny
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Deputies arrested Alexander Mckinny on a charge of driving under the influence. Mckinny was released Sunday from the Indian River County Jail on $500 bond.
No injuries were reported in the early Sunday wreck, deputies said. Indian River County sheriff’s officials on Monday released dashboard camera footage of the collision.
Deputies said a sheriff’s sergeant was stopped at a red light in his patrol vehicle at 6 a.m. in the 800 block of Old Dixie Highway, west of U.S. 1. The patrol vehicle was facing north on Old Dixie Highway while Mckinny’s car – also stopped at a red light – was facing south.
Mckinny then abruptly drove through the intersection and across the street while the traffic light was still red, dashboard video showed. Deputies said Mckinny struck the patrol vehicle’s front passenger side bumper.
Mckinny drove around the patrol car and then stopped on the side of the road. The sergeant detained Mckinny after Mckinny got out of his vehicle.
After another deputy responded to the crash, Mckinny told the officer his “vehicle was acting up” and that he tried to put on the emergency brake, his arrest report showed. Mckinny told deputies he didn’t see the red light.
Deputies conducted a field sobriety test on Mckinny after they suspected he was driving impaired. Mckinny was evaluated at the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital emergency room, where deputies said he nodded off and was swaying back and forth, reports showed.
While being booked in to the county jail, Mckinny took a DUI breath test that showed he had a .000 blood-alcohol content level. A certified drug recognition expert evaluated Mckinny.
The expert determined that Mckinny was possibly under the influence of a central nervous system depressant, leaving him unable to safely drive a vehicle, reports showed. Deputies said the damaged patrol vehicle was taken to the sheriff’s office garage for repair.
