FELLSMERE — One man has been arrested after he crashed into two vehicles and fled the scene during a DUI-related crash.
Michael Lee Decker crashed his silver 2004 Chevrolet pick-up truck in to the rear of a black 2015 Mazda SUV with sufficient force to propel it into another vehicle, a red 2001 Dodge van, according to authorities. Both vehicles were stationary at the time of the crash because traffic in front of them had stopped.
Sunday at 7:40 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of CR 512 and 128th Court to investigate the report of a crash involving three vehicles, according to Fellsmere Police.
The driver of the black Mazda saw the truck approaching from the rear and warned the other occupants in the vehicle to brace for impact, according to police.
The occupants of that vehicle and an additional witness said Decker backed his truck up after impact, then drove forward and struck the Mazda again with enough force to drive it in to the back of the Dodge van a second time. Decker then backed up his truck, drove around the two vehicles he just disabled, and fled the scene, authorities said.
Decker was located at a gas station just east of Interstate 95 and detained, according to police.
He and the occupants of the Mazda were all transported to a local hospital where they were treated and released.
Decker smelled strongly of alcohol, spoke with slurred speech and was slow to respond to officers when questioned. He refused to perform field sobriety tests and a check of his driver’s license revealed it was suspended for refusing to provide a breath sample during a prior DUI arrest.
He faces charges of DUI crash with personal injury, leaving the scene of a crash with injuries, and driving while license suspended (with knowledge), and transported to the Indian River County jail once released from medical care, according to authorities. He subsequently refused to provide a breath sample and was charged with that refusal as well.
