Woman accused of DUI with a child in the car after fleeing a crash
LAKELAND, Fla. – A Lakeland woman was arrested early Saturday morning after a hit-and-run crash led deputies to her location, where she was found with a juvenile passenger and allegedly impaired by alcohol.
According to a report from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, 28-year-old Z’Lexia Jaquila Willis was taken into custody after a crash was reported at approximately 1:30 a.m. at the intersection of West Campbell Road and Kathleen Road. The victim of the crash provided deputies with a description of the suspect’s black Ford and its license plate number.
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Deputies were able to locate the vehicle at Campbell Road North and Banana Road. The driver was identified as Willis, who had a juvenile passenger in the car. The report states that Willis exhibited signs of impairment and had a strong odor of alcohol on her breath.
Deputies say that Willis was also driving on a suspended license and the vehicle’s tag was expired.
Following her arrest, Willis was transported to the Sheriff’s Processing Center. There, she submitted to a breath-alcohol analysis. The results showed a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.252 and 0.250, which is more than three times the legal limit of 0.08 in Florida.
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Despite denying that she was driving or involved in the crash, Willis faces multiple charges.
She has been charged with DUI 0.15 or Higher, Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (DWLSR), Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Property Damage, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, and Culpable Negligence.
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