Guatemalan national arrested on DUI and drug charges after allegedly driving against traffic and hitting another vehicle head-on

Staff report

ALACHUA, Fla. – Ludwin Eriksander Funes Salazar, 24, was arrested last night after allegedly hitting another vehicle head-on while driving the wrong way on U.S. Hwy 441 in Alachua; he was charged with cocaine possession, driving under the influence, and four other charges.

At about 10:15 p.m. on March 9, an Alachua Police Department officer saw a gold Toyota driving northbound in the southbound lanes on U.S. Hwy 441 near NW 133rd Terrace and turned on his emergency lights to catch up to the Toyota; the Toyota reportedly hit another vehicle head-on, disabling both vehicles. The driver of the other vehicle was medically cleared at the scene of the crash.

Click here to watch Alachua Police Department’s video of the incident and the arrest.

When the officer approached the Toyota, he reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol and noted that the driver, later identified as Funes Salazar, had bloodshot and watery eyes and slurred speech.

Funes Salazar reportedly refused to conduct field sobriety exercises and said he did not have a driver’s license but presented his Guatemalan passport as identification.

After Funes Salazar was arrested, he was transported to an emergency room to be medically cleared; while at the medical facility, he allegedly kept pulling away from officers and stepped on a Gainesville Police Department officer’s foot.

At the jail, Funes Salazar’s breath samples reportedly measured 0.245 and 0.242 g/210L, more than three times the legal limit of 0.08 g/210L.

A search at the jail reportedly produced two small baggies containing 0.3 grams of a white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine.

Funes Salazar has been charged with cocaine possession, introducing contraband into a detention facility, DUI with property damage, resisting an officer without violence, reckless driving, and driving without a valid license. He has no criminal history, and Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $60,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.