JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The driver who struck and critically injured two teenagers pushing a Ford Explorer that had run out of gas on Blanding Boulevard late Saturday night was arrested -- his fourth for driving under the influence.
Troopers said the SUV ran out of gas as it entered the intersection of Blanding and Collins Road about 11:20 p.m. Frederick Horn, 17, and Jason Newton, 14, got out to push the vehicle out of the road.
According to the FHP, the driver of the Chrysler Pacifica, Christopher Breza, 54, failed to notice that the Explorer was disabled in the center lane of Blanding and struck the two teenagers and the SUV.
One of the victims was pinned underneath the van and the second was thrown onto the highway. Both were taken to UF Health Jacksonville with critical injuries. As of Monday, Newton was still listed in critical condition. Information on Horn's condition was not available Monday. However, Horn's girlfriend tells News4Jax Horn had to have his leg amputated.
The driver of the Explorer and a front-seat passenger suffered minor injuries and were also taken to UF Health.
Breza was also hospitalized with minor injuries.
According to the FHP report, the accident was alcohol-related and Breza had previous convictions of driving under the influence. He was charged with two counts of DUI with serious bodily injury, two counts of DUI with property damage, one count of refusal to submit to a blood test and one count of careless driving.
Breza was arrested and booked into the Duval County jail, where he remained on Monday.
Breza had a valid driver's license at the time of the crash. Local attorney Gene Nichols said that means his most recent DUI arrest was likely years ago.
"He will not be on the roads again legally I would not suspect," Nichols said. "I would fully suspect a permanent revocation of his driver's license. … Slim to none he will ever get to drive again."