Seminole County school transportation employee arrested on DUI charge

Sunday Blythe had been drinking beer, taking Nyquil, police say

Sunday Blythe (Volusia County Sheriff's Office)

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – A Seminole County school transportation employee who had been drinking beer and taking Nyquil was charged with DUI after she rear-ended another vehicle, according to the New Smyrna Beach Police Department.

Sunday Blythe, 44, was driving her silver 2006 Hummer when she hit a vehicle on State Road 44 around 7 p.m. Friday, according to the charging affidavit. Both drivers were able to drive their vehicles to a nearby parking lot.

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Police said when they arrived at the scene Blythe was slurring her words, swaying and had glassy eyes. She struggled to provide police with her registration and proof of insurance. Instead, she repeatedly offered up a Toyota rental agreement. 

Blythe was cited for careless driving and then a DUI investigation began.

She told police that she drank three beers within 30 minutes along with her prescribed narcotics earlier that evening before driving, the affidavit said. Blythe couldn't provide police with the name of her prescription.

Police said Blythe struggled to complete the field sobriety tests. She stumbled and had difficulties understanding the instructions when she was asked to walk a straight line. She then blamed her bad knees when she wasn't able to properly complete the exercise, police said.

During another test, she told officers she had been taking Nyquil every four hours that day. 

Blythe was taken to the Edgewater Police Department to take a Breathalyzer test. She attempted to take the test 13 times, but each time she didn't blow long enough, didn't blow hard enough or didn't blow at all, police said. Blythe blamed her asthma for her inability to complete the test and the attempts were deemed a refusal.

Blythe was charged with DUI and DUI with property damage.

A spokesman for Seminole County Schools said Blythe will remain on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of her case. Blythe was hired as a school bus driver in 2006 then transferred to her current position as manager of area transportation in 2013.