Criminal defense attorney charged with DUI in hit-and-run

Thomas Edwards

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A Gainesville criminal defense attorney has been charged with DUI in a hit-and-run crash on Saturday.

State troopers say 55-year-old Thomas Edwards collided with two other cars along Interstate 75 and continued to drive off for about four miles before he had to stop and change a tire.

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Edwards is a partner with the firm Schackow, Mercadante and Edwards.

Troopers say Edwards smelled of alcohol and stumbled around his car to show them the damage before nearly collapsing.

They say Edwards refused a field sobriety test and refused giving a breath sample, which leads to an automatic driver's license suspension of one year.