Florida Woman Accused of DUI Crashes Into Home, Claims She Was Trying to ‘Avoid Hitting a Raccoon’
A car is seen crashing into the side of a residence in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo: WCJB/TattoosByLarry)
In a recent incident in Gainesville, Florida, a resident awoke to quite the surprise as a driver had collided with his home, WCJB reported last week. According to the driver, who stands accused of a DUI, she was “just trying to avoid hitting a raccoon.”
The homeowner, identified as Lawrence Mead, was jolted from his sleep around 4 a.m. by the noise of a screeching car, followed by a crash. Startled by the commotion, Mead hastily exited his bedroom to discover an intruder, Shakira Warmack, aged 28, attempting to restart her vehicle within the confines of his living room. Warmack had forcefully smashed through the front wall of his home, leaving a trail of devastation in her wake, per the report.
This incident, Mead revealed, is an unfortunate recurrence in the area, typically attributed to intoxicated college-aged individuals.
“I knew exactly what was happening,” Mead informed WCJB. “It happens here 3 or 4 times a year so it’s always that thing that you’re waiting to hear because it’s usually about that time in the morning. Screech bang screech bang but the bang wasn’t coming quick enough, you know what I mean? I just heard all of the stuff getting closer and closer and closer.”
Upon investigation, Warmack told officers from the Gainesville Police Department that her reckless actions were an attempt to avoid striking a raccoon. However, a subsequent field sobriety test led to her arrest. She now faces charges of DUI as well as significant property damage exceeding $20,000.
Mead, on the other hand, is in the process of rebuilding his home. WCJB noted that he has already initiated the cleanup process, removing the debris and temporarily covering the breach with posterboard and a tarp.
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