Man on pre-trial release for DUI in Manatee County arrested for DUI after allegedly hitting car on I-75 in Alachua County

Staff report

MICANOPY, Fla. – Julio Cesar Hernandez-Lopez, 27, of Bradenton, was arrested yesterday morning after allegedly hitting another car and then leaving the scene on I-75; his blood alcohol level was reportedly more than double the legal limit.

At about 9:59 a.m. on Sunday, a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper responded to a hit-and-run crash at mile marker 375 on I-75. Dispatchers advised the trooper that callers had reported a car in the wood line and a driver who had fled on foot. Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies located Hernandez-Lopez south of the crash at about 10:15 a.m.

Deputies reportedly found two other Hispanic males climbing the overpass hillside onto SW Wacahoota Road; all three men were interviewed separately by a Spanish-speaking trooper.

The trooper reported that there were three cold beers in the front seat of the car, and Hernandez-Lopez was identified as the driver. Deputies learned that Hernandez-Lopez was arrested last month in Manatee County for driving under the influence and driving without a valid license and released on cash bond of $240.

The trooper noted a strong smell of alcohol after placing Hernandez-Lopez in his patrol car and reported signs of impairment. Breath tests reportedly measured at .199 and .181 g/210L, compared to a legal limit of 0.08 g/210L.

Post Miranda, the trooper reported that his only statements were “I speak no English” and a request for troopers to take him to Mexico.

Hernandez-Lopez has been charged with leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, driving under the influence, and driving without a valid license. Judge Thomas Jaworski set bail at $155,000, with the requirement that Hernandez-Lopez be fitted with a Transdermal Alcohol Monitor if released.

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. 

  • Deport this guy and his friends now. Let him serve his time in a Mexican prison since he wants to go to Mexico anyway.

  • Funny hearing the original illegal immigrants tell people where they should go🤣🤣

  • Seems like a lot of illegals are wanting to go back now that it’s getting cold. Joey’s broken promises.

  • Drunk driving on a Sunday morning on a long holiday weekend; bound to be lots of cars on the road. It’s too bad he didn’t find himself in a nice boggy marsh with no help.

    How about we deport every illegal immigrant and every green card/visa holder? I have a suspicion our sacred economy will survive; might even do some good for whatever culture we have left on life support.

    • He was “installed”, not voted in by way of fraud. Our only hope is that it doesn’t repeat in 2024. Think about it… if he was actually voted in, he would have had more public support, even before he started his nonsense. How many Biden flags, bumper stickers and posters have you seen, ever? That’s before and after the election… And now, since he’s doing such a bang up job, even the ones that I had seen on a couple of idiot’s cars in my neighborhood have since been scraped off.

  • This guy never would’ve been free and endangering everyone on I-75 but for the radical left judges of Manatee County that released him on $240 bail! When will our incompetent GOP governor and legislature pass laws with real, mandatory bail restrictions?!??

      • All the legislature and governor did was spinelessly pass off revisiting the bond schedule to the Florida Supreme Court, when they could’ve legislated themselves a bond schedule that keeps criminals off the street. It’s pathetic.

        • Read the statute and session notes. It’s the end of the year. It is only the end of November Comrade DUM DUM. Maybe Santa will bring you a bond schedule early this year.

  • Send him to Mexico but make sure that it’s to the authorities and that he goes to prison there.

  • >