A Melbourne woman is facing several driving under the influence charges after allegedly hitting and killing a horse with her car last Wednesday evening and fleeing the scene, according to local officials.
Anne Cross was detained by Brevard County Sheriff’s deputies on accusations of DUI with property damage, refusal to submit to testing, and driving under the influence.
The incident began when a witness called dispatchers to report that a motorist had hit a horse on Lake Washington Road and fled without stopping. Deputies and officers from the Florida Highway Patrol arrived shortly thereafter, and the animal was pronounced dead on the spot. The FHP handled the crash investigation, while deputies looked into the suspected drunk driving.
Authorities tracked the truck to Cross’s house, where they discovered it substantially damaged and found Cross nearby. Investigators saw that she had visible facial injuries, watery eyes, and slurred speech.
According to a statement made by Sheriff Wayne Ivey, Cross informed responding authorities that she was traveling home from a shopping excursion when “something” landed on her vehicle’s hood. She claimed she thought the animal was a deer and said she had no trouble driving the rest of the way home.
Deputies said the car’s hood was smashed inward and the windshield was barely intact.
Cross refused to participate in field sobriety exercises, dubbed the “Drunk Olympics” by Ivey, and rejected a breathalyzer test. Deputies arrested her based on evidence found at the scene and lodged her into Brevard County Jail.
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