Man arrested for DUI hit-and-run after allegedly hitting car and injuring occupants and then fleeing from law enforcement

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Wilber Antonio Orantes Santizo, 32, was arrested last night and charged with three felonies and six misdemeanors after allegedly hitting a car while impaired, resulting in injuries to the two occupants of the car, and then leaving the scene and fleeing from law enforcement.

At about 8:53 p.m. last night, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a report of a reckless driver that had hit a car on SW 75th Street near Veteran’s Memorial Park; the deputy reportedly saw a red pickup truck driving south on SW 75th Street with sparks coming from the rim of a front wheel. The truck reportedly had front-end damage and only one working headlight.

The truck allegedly ignored the deputy’s lights and sirens, drove into the Palms of Archer mobile home park, and eventually lost control and hit a concrete curb.

The deputy got out of his patrol vehicle, drew his firearm, and ordered the driver to get out of the truck. However, the driver allegedly ignored the commands and pushed the accelerator in an attempt to get the truck to move. The driver eventually got out of the truck and was taken into custody.

The deputy noted that the driver, later identified as Orantes Santizo, was unsteady on his feet and had bloodshot, glassy eyes; the deputy also noted a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath.

Orantes Santizo was transported to an emergency room for medical treatment, where he reportedly consented to a blood draw.

Meanwhile, a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper responded to the scene of the crash and found a Toyota Prius that had extensive front left damage; the two occupants of the Prius had already been transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The trooper went to the emergency room and reported that he was unable to communicate with Orantes Santizo due to a language barrier, but he viewed the deputy’s body-worn camera to confirm that Orantes Santizo had been the driver of the pickup truck.

The trooper then went to the hospital to interview the occupants of the Prius; the driver of the Prius reportedly said that the truck had crossed the center line and that she had swerved to try to avoid a collision, but the truck hit the front left of her car and then drove away. The passenger reportedly provided a similar account of the incident.

One witness saw the crash and corroborated the Prius occupants’ account; another witness said he had been behind the pickup truck for several miles and that the truck had been driving in an erratic manner and failing to maintain a lane. That witness said he had called 911 to report the reckless driver and had continued to follow the truck while on the phone with the 911 operator, and he saw the truck swerve across the center line and hit the Prius. That witness reportedly continued to follow the truck until he saw the deputy activate his lights, then he went back to the crash site to check on the occupants of the Prius.

Both the deputy and the trooper noted that Orantes Santizo did not have a driver’s license and did not have any ID; however, the pickup truck was registered to him. A search reportedly found that Orantes Santizo does not hold a driver’s license in any state. The arrest report notes that he was born in Guatemala.

The trooper charged Orantes Santizo with two counts of hit and run with injuries and one count of hit and run with property damage. He also cited Orantes Santizo for failure to maintain a single lane.

The deputy charged Orantes Santizo with DUI, DUI with property damage, two counts of DUI with injury to another person, fleeing with lights and sirens active, and driving without a license.

Orantes Santizo reportedly refused to provide any information about how long he has been in the area or whether he is employed. He has a criminal conviction in Delaware from 2011 and a federal criminal history between 2008 and 2011.

Judge Kristine Van Vorst set bail at $152,500 but ordered the State Attorney’s Office to provide probable cause for the DUI charges within 72 hours. She also set a curfew of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for Orantes Santizo and ordered him to surrender any travel documentation.

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.