ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A Florida Highway Patrol trooper was injured in a crash involving an intoxicated driver Sunday, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
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Deputies responded to the intersection of Orange Blossom Trail and Americana Blvd. just before 11 p.m. Sunday after hearing reports of the crash come over their radios.
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Once on scene, they saw the FHP patrol car with extensive damage to the rear end and a second vehicle with heavy damage to the front end.
Both the trooper and the other driver, identified as 25-year-old Kevin Nunez-Herrera, were being treated for the injuries in the center median.
When deputies interviewed Nunez-Herrera at the hospital, he initially claimed he fell asleep while driving and came to after the crash.
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Though they spoke through an interpreter, the deputy noted Nunez-Herrera was slurring his speech. The deputy also noted he had bloodshot eyes and the smell of alcohol coming from his breath.
Deputies found cause to charge Nunez-Herrera with driving under the influence causing a serious serious injury and driving with no license with a serious injury.
After looking into his background, deputies found no record of Nunes-Herrera ever being issued a driver’s license. However, they still found four suspensions on his record, and an active warrant out of Volusia County for driving without a license.
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He’s being held in the Orange County jail on a total of $10,300 bond.
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