[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 04/02/20]
GROVELAND, Florida — A woman who was naked from the waist down and accused of a hit and run, was charged with DUI, DUI with property damage and leaving the scene of a crash Tuesday.
The Florida Highway Patrol responded to a hit-and-run crash shortly after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday near the area of County Road 33 and Blue Isle Lane. The victim in the crash was able to get the tag number of the white Nissan pickup truck involved, and told a trooper it left and traveled west down Blue Isle Lane.
The truck crashed through a fence just minutes later and a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy spotted the truck with the occupant’s feet sticking out of the window. The deputy made contact with Deborah Morgan, 57, who attempted to start the truck, according to an FHP arrest report. Morgan kept trying to start the truck, but kept stalling out due to it being a stick shift, the report states. The deputy removed the keys and Morgan exited the vehicle – without pants or underwear – wearing only a black shirt. Morgan — who allegedly had extremely bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and was drooling — appeared heavily intoxicated and had a hard time standing up, according to the report. The deputy sat Morgan down and she continued to fall over on her right side.
Lake EMS responded and transported Morgan to a local hospital; a trooper arrived at the hospital nearly two hours after the crash and could still smell alcohol on Morgan’s breath, the report states. The trooper asked Morgan why she fled from the crash and she said “because she was scared.” The trooper performed a field sobriety exercise which provided indicators of impairment. She was taken to the Lake County Jail where she refused a breath test.
Morgan was charged with DUI, DUI with property damage and leaving the scene of a crash. She was released Wednesday on $2,500 bond.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
