A 69-year-old Villager from Illinois was arrested after police alleged that he left the scene of a two-vehicle crash in Fruitland Park while driving under the influence.
Michael George Adams, of the Village of Buttonwood, was taken into custody Thursday on allegations of leaving the scene of an accident without providing required information and driving under the influence. He was later booked into the Lake County Jail and released after posting a $4,000 bond.
The case began with a nighttime collision at a busy Fruitland Park intersection and ended after officers located a damaged vehicle traveling several miles from the reported crash scene.
The Crash
According to the Fruitland Park Police Department arrest report, officers were called to the intersection of State Road 25 and North County Road 25A at approximately 9:30 p.m. following a report of a two-vehicle collision.
When officers arrived, they found a black Buick with substantial damage to its front end. The other vehicle involved in the crash was no longer at the location.
Investigators began speaking with witnesses to determine what had happened and where the second vehicle had gone.
Witness Account
One witness told police that a vehicle had allegedly run a red light while making a northbound left turn, causing the collision.
The witness reportedly identified the driver as someone named “Michael.”
According to the report, the witness had recently left the Hilltop Bar in Fruitland Park and was traveling toward an Applebee’s restaurant in Lady Lake when the crash occurred.
The witness later contacted the suspected driver and told him that he had run the red light.
The response allegedly was brief: “I know.”
That exchange became part of the information provided to investigators as they attempted to locate the vehicle that had left the scene.
Police Find Vehicle
Officers with the Lady Lake Police Department subsequently located a brown Hyundai traveling northbound near State Road 25 and Rolling Acres Road.
The vehicle reportedly showed significant damage along the driver’s side.
Police also observed the Hyundai behaving erratically, according to the arrest report. Officers said it quickly moved across three lanes of traffic before approaching a designated bicycle lane.
The vehicle then slowed considerably.
Investigators reported that the driver appeared to place the vehicle in park while it was still moving before it eventually came to a complete stop.
Fruitland Park police were called to the location to continue the investigation into the earlier collision.
Passenger’s Statement
A passenger inside Adams’ vehicle reportedly told investigators that they had been leaving the Hilltop Bar.
The passenger also reportedly expressed confusion about why Adams continued driving after the collision rather than stopping at the scene.
The statement provided investigators with additional information as they pieced together the events following the crash.
Police ultimately identified Adams as the driver and continued questioning him about the incident.
Adams Declines Questions
After being taken into custody and advised of his Miranda rights, Adams reportedly declined to discuss the crash with officers.
His decision not to answer questions was documented in the arrest report.
Authorities then proceeded with the investigation using witness accounts, observations of the vehicle and other available evidence.
The allegations contained in an arrest report are not a finding of guilt, and Adams remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty in court.
Sobriety Test Refused
The investigation also involved an attempt to conduct field sobriety exercises.
When Adams arrived at the jail, authorities reportedly asked him to participate in the exercises. He declined, telling officers, “I don’t think that will be necessary.”
Although he refused the field sobriety exercises, Adams agreed to provide a breath sample.
The arrest report documented those interactions as part of the DUI investigation.
Two Charges
Adams was ultimately arrested on two charges.
The first was leaving the scene of an accident without providing information. Florida law generally requires drivers involved in qualifying crashes to stop and provide necessary information and assistance.
The second allegation was driving under the influence.
The charges stem from the reported crash and the officers’ subsequent investigation. Any final determination of guilt will be made through the court process.
Jail and Bond
Following his arrest, Adams was booked into the Lake County Jail.
He was later released after posting a $4,000 bond.
No conviction has been established based solely on the arrest. The allegations will proceed through the legal system, where Adams will have an opportunity to respond to the charges.
What Happened That Night?
Based on the arrest report, investigators’ account of the incident begins with the reported collision around 9:30 p.m. at State Road 25 and North County Road 25A.
A witness alleged that a vehicle ran a red light while turning north and struck another vehicle. The suspected vehicle then left the crash scene.
Police later located a damaged brown Hyundai near State Road 25 and Rolling Acres Road. Officers reported seeing the vehicle swerve across multiple lanes and slow sharply near the bicycle lane.
The driver was eventually stopped, and Fruitland Park officers took over the investigation.
Case Continues
The arrest has drawn attention because it combines allegations of impaired driving with an accusation that the driver left a crash scene.
For now, the arrest report provides the account available from investigators, while several questions will ultimately be addressed through the court proceedings.
Adams, 69, has been released on bond following his booking at the Lake County Jail. The charges remain allegations unless and until they are established in court.
The case illustrates how a reported traffic collision can quickly develop into a broader criminal investigation when a driver allegedly leaves the scene and is later located by law enforcement.
As the legal process moves forward, additional court records could provide more information about the allegations, Adams’ response and the eventual outcome of the case.
