An Orlando man was arrested after driving off the Florida Turnpike at U.S. Hwy. 301 in Wildwood and causing traffic to back up for nearly a mile.
Wildwood police were called shortly before 5 p.m. Friday to Exit 304 off the turnpike where George Drew Fogarty, 48, had exited his vehicle and was reportedly passed out alongside it. Several drivers had stopped to try to help and EMS and fire rescue units had also responded to the scene contributing to the back-up of traffic, the arrest report noted.
Fogarty had gotten into a swampy area and his prosthetic leg had become detached, according to the arrest report. When the police officer came into contact with Fogarty, the officer detected the smell of alcohol. Fogarty told the officer he had been “drinking a lot.” There was a Barcadi rum bottle laying in the passenger seat in plain view and was almost empty, the arrest report stated. There was also a can of Coca Cola in the vehicle which appeared to contain alcohol.
After he was cleared by EMS, Fogarty was arrested on a charge of disorderly intoxication and transported to the Sumter County Detention Center.
