FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – A Palm Coast man has been arrested after he was caught driving the wrong way while intoxicated over the weekend, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s office.
In a release, investigators said the incident happened just before 2 a.m. on Saturday, when a deputy spotted a pickup truck heading west in the eastbound lanes of Palm Coast Parkway.
At the time, the truck was heading directly toward the deputy’s patrol vehicle, the sheriff’s office noted.
“The deputy stopped the truck and observed major front-end damage and red paint transfer that was believed to be from a red vehicle that had been struck in a hit-and-run crash with injuries that had just been reported on State Road 100,” the release reads.
Deputies said they then spoke with the driver — identified as David Vlassis, 46, of Palm Coast — who was “standing unsteady” by the truck and repeatedly apologizing.
“Why am I on the wrong — wrong side of the highway? I don’t know," Vlassis can be heard saying in released body-camera footage. “I didn’t even... To be honest with you, I did not even realize that until this very moment.”
Per the sheriff’s office, Vlassis’ speech was slurred, he was swaying while he stood, and his eyes were red and glossy. He later provided two breath samples, which registered at nearly three times the legal BAC limit, deputies noted.
“I (expletive) up,” Vlassis said.
“Yes... Yes,” a deputy responded.
“I think we can all agree on that,” Vlassis continued.
As a result of the incident, Vlassis was taken into custody and now faces charges of driving under the influence with damage to person or property, and leaving the scene of a crash involving injury.
He was later released on bond of $3,500.
“There is no excuse for getting behind the wheel while drunk,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “This driver was so impaired he was going on the wrong way on the parkway and could have struck our deputy or anyone else head-on after already leaving the scene of a crash with injuries. He is lucky he didn’t kill anyone.”