New York Man Arrested in Palm Coast DUI Hit-and-Run
The Flagler County Sheriff's Office arrested a New York man on Oct. 11 after deputies say he caused a hit-and-run crash while driving drunk in Palm Coast, Florida.
Deputies were called to investigate a crash on Big Horn Drive just before midnight the night before the arrest. The victim told deputies the driver who struck his vehicle appeared confused or intoxicated before fleeing the scene in a Chevrolet truck.
Deputies began searching the area for the vehicle and located a matching truck traveling on Belle Terre Parkway. The vehicle was observed drifting in and out of its lane, prompting deputies to conduct a traffic stop.
The driver was identified as Dariuz Knapik, 59, of Woodbridge, New York. Deputies reported detecting a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and noted he was unsteady on his feet with bloodshot eyes.
After completing the crash investigation, deputies initiated a DUI investigation. During field sobriety exercises, deputies said Knapik had difficulty understanding instructions and struggled to complete the requested tasks.
Knapik was arrested for DUI and DUI causing property damage. Breath tests showed a blood alcohol content of 0.183 and 0.190, and he was later released on a $2,000 bond. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
