JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office shared dash cam video of a 62-year-old suspected drunk driver barreling through the the IRONMAN Jacksonville race, narrowly missing athletes, before police used a PIT maneuver to end the chase near Five Points.
JSO said the incident unfolded on May 16 as Officer Ernesto Valerio was blocking traffic to allow Ironman athletes to complete their 26.2-mile run. Valerio heard over the radio that a driver, later identified as Darrell Simon, was traveling through both the bike and run courses.
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The video showed Valerio catch up to the vehicle and attempt to pull the driver over multiple times. Dash cam footage captured several moments where the driver came dangerously close to striking athletes on the course.
See the video below:
The footage also showed another officer, who JSO identified as Aaron Sanchez, risking his life, positioning his motorcycle in an attempt to stop the vehicle. But Simon drove around the officer and sped off.
Before he made the next move, Valerio could be heard saying, “We got to stop this guy. He’s going to kill someone.”
Valerio ultimately brought the chase to an end using a PIT maneuver at the intersection of Riverside Park Place and Park Street.
Other nearby officers assisted in taking Simon into custody.
Simon was arrested on eight felony charges, along with nearly a dozen misdemeanors and violations.
JSO also said it was Simon’s third DUI arrest in the past 10 years.
No athletes or spectators were injured