JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said it arrested a suspected drunk driver who sped through the IRONMAN Jacksonville race near Five Points on Saturday, narrowly missing runners and bicyclists before officers stopped the vehicle. No one was injured.
Around 4:30 p.m., officers stationed along the cycling course saw a vehicle driven recklessly into the path of competitors and spectators and tried to stop it, police said. The driver refused to stop, prompting nearby DUI and traffic units to pursue the car because it posed a danger to people in the area.
Body-worn cameras captured multiple near-misses as the impaired driver weaved toward crowded Riverside Park, police said. As the vehicle approached the park, DUI Officer Ernesto Valerio used a PIT maneuver to stop it, and other officers quickly moved in to make the arrest.
Police identified the suspect as 62-year-old Darrell Simon. He was booked on eight felony charges and nearly a dozen misdemeanors and violations, authorities said. The arrest was Simon’s third DUI arrest in the past 10 years, police added.
Officials said they closed lanes and roads during the response to protect athletes and spectators and acknowledged some people were frustrated by the traffic delays.
“This incident could’ve led to a tragedy, and we’re grateful the officers’ quick actions stopped anyone from possibly getting hurt or killed,” officials said.