Authorities report that a man repeatedly endangered participants in the Five Points section of a triathlon race and was eventually halted by a PIT maneuver.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville resident was taken into custody on Saturday after allegedly driving under the influence and nearly colliding with athletes during the first-ever Jacksonville Ironman event.
Darrell Simon, 62, faced a bond exceeding $215,000 as he remained detained on Monday, confronting eight felony counts in addition to several misdemeanor charges.
The incident unfolded around 4:30 p.m. when officers stationed along the triathlon route in Five Points observed a vehicle dangerously veering into the path of the competitors, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Identified as Simon, the driver reportedly disregarded police orders to stop, sparking a chase.
Captured on police cameras, the driver was seen narrowly missing athletes as he accelerated towards Riverside Park. His reckless journey was brought to an end by a tactical PIT maneuver, leading to his arrest. The arrest report also notes that Simon allegedly collided with and damaged another vehicle in the vicinity of Riverside Park Place.
The sheriff’s office disclosed that this marks Simon’s third DUI arrest in the last decade. Legal documents indicate that Simon is slated to appear in court for arraignment on the charges in early June, as of the latest update.
“We understand many people were not fans of the traffic delays on Saturday, but we closed lanes and roads to keep the athletes and spectators safe,” the sheriff’s office wrote. “This incident could’ve led to a tragedy and we’re grateful the officers’ quick actions stopped anyone from possibly getting hurt or killed.”
Traffic control and road closure awareness were an issue throughout the event, and two bicyclists were involved in collisions with vehicles, according to a Jacksonville Fire and Rescue spokesperson. No life-threatening injuries were reported in connection with those crashes, which both happened in St. Johns County.
