A Spruce Creek South man is facing a drunk driving charge after hitting the front entrance gate of the 55+ community in Summerfield.
A trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol was summoned to the home of 74-year-old George Bagnowski on June 19, according to an arrest report. Marion County sheriff’s deputies had requested that FHP investigate a crash which had taken place in the gated community.
When the trooper arrived, Bagnowski was seated in a lawn chair near the driveway where his red Toyota Rav4 was parked. The vehicle had two deflated rear tires and damage to the right side and the front side. Bagnowski attempted to stand up and greet the trooper, but lost his balance and fell over.
The trooper asked the Chicago native what had happened.
“I was drunked up,” Bagnowski said.
Video surveillance showed that as Bagnowski turned into the gated development late that afternoon, he hit a stop sign and the gate. He continued on and ran into a drainage ditch, deflating one of the vehicle’s tires. He drove on and hit a mailbox at a home where a woman was gardening. He nearly hit her, too. She dialed 911.
Bagnowski struggled through field sobriety exercises and refused to provide a breath sample.
He was taken to the HCA Florida Emergency Room for a medical evaluation and then transported to the Marion County Jail where he was booked on charges of driving under the influence and hit and run. He was released after posting bond.