Palmetto woman drove across golf course before DUI arrest, deputies say
A Palmetto woman drove across a golf course at a Polk County resort before crashing into a curb with dozens of liquor bottles inside her vehicle, deputies say.
Erica Leigh Mayer, 34, faces multiple DUI-related charges after Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies say she crashed a red 2018 Hyundai Elantra at Streamsong Golf Resort on May 14.
An attorney representing Mayer did not immediately respond to the Bradenton Herald’s request for comment.
According to an arrest report, deputies responded to a 911 call around 7:17 p.m. at 1000 Streamsong Drive after witnesses reported a single-vehicle crash involving a driver they suspected was impaired.
Witnesses told deputies Mayer drove across part of one of the resort’s golf courses before the vehicle jumped a sidewalk and struck a raised concrete curb, causing about $100 in damage to the curb and surrounding grass, investigators say. Witnesses also helped Mayer out of the vehicle after the crash, according to the report.
Deputies said Mayer was the only person inside the vehicle.
Palmetto woman arrested in DUI crash, deputies say
Investigators reported Mayer showed multiple signs of impairment, including slurred speech, slow movements, bloodshot and watery eyes, drooping eyelids, a flushed face and an odor of alcohol coming from her breath. One deputy described her movements as “extremely slow” and “lethargic” and said she swayed, stumbled and sidestepped while standing, according to the report.
Mayer told deputies she was trying to drive home to Palmetto from Lakewood Ranch, but instead took a wrong turn and got lost. She also told deputies she had “no idea where she was at,” according to the report. Investigators noted Lakewood Ranch is more than 25 miles east of where Mayer crashed.
Despite the odor of alcohol, Mayer denied drinking and told deputies she had only taken prescribed fluoxetine, an antidepressant, earlier in the day, according to the report.
Deputies reported recovering 23 open or empty liquor containers from Mayer and the vehicle, along with 10 unopened bottles inside the center console. The containers included Fireball whiskey and 99 Brand peach and cinnamon liquor.
According to the arrest report, Mayer refused to participate in field sobriety exercises.
“I’ve been told by friends and on social media it’s a bad idea to do field sobrieties,” Mayer told deputies, according to the report. “I’m not going to do them. I refuse.”
Deputies arrested Mayer and transported her to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Processing Center, where investigators say she also refused to provide breath samples for testing. Mayer told investigators the timing between the crash and breath test was “off” and questioned how deputies could know whether she consumed alcohol after the crash, according to the report.
Mayer faces charges of DUI with property damage, DUI and refusal to submit to a DUI test. She also received civil citations for having an open container in a vehicle and failure to drive in a single lane.
Records show Mayer was previously arrested on a DUI charge in Leon County in 2015.
Court records show Mayer pleaded not guilty. A hearing is scheduled for July 2 in Polk County. Records also show Mayer was released after posting $8,000 bond on the three criminal traffic charges.
