The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Cudjoe Key man on Monday for a DUI after he hit a vehicle, proceeded home and then returned to the scene to speak with deputies.
William Alan Carter, 51, was charged with hit-and-run, DUI and DUI with property damage.
Around 9:10 p.m., deputies responded to a reported hit-and-run in Big Coppitt, where he met with two witnesses who reported seeing a truck sideswipe another vehicle. One witness stated he only heard a crash, but the other witness stated he thought he saw a white truck hit the vehicle and then turn left.
One deputy went around the corner, where he found Carter standing next to a white truck with extensive damage to the front passenger side. According to the report, Carter admitted to crashing his vehicle, parking it and then going home. He further stated that once at home, he requested his wife to give him a ride back to his vehicle, but she refused. Instead, Carter’s friend gave him a ride, although Carter didn’t tell him about the crash. He said he was gone for about 20 minutes.
According to the report, deputies felt that Carter appeared intoxicated due to the smell of alcohol as well as his physical appearance. Upon questioning, Carter stated he had been drinking Busch Light, but had only had three. A search of the vehicle found one empty beer can on the floor, one full can behind the driver’s seat, and 16 empty cans in the bed of the truck.
Deputies conducted a field sobriety test, and Carter failed each component. Deputies transported him to the Key West DUI room, where a breath sample showed his blood-alcohol level as .267.
Carter was transported to the Monroe County Detention Center, but he was released later the next day.
Information in the Crime Report is obtained from reports provided by area law enforcement agencies.
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