POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A late-night crash in Polk City took a high-tech turn Friday when deputies used a drone to track down a driver who bolted from a wrecked pickup truck. Around 10:45 p.m a black Nissan truck slammed into a concrete barrier near the intersection of SR 33 North and Old Polk City Road.
A witness who saw the impact called 911, reporting that the driver had ditched the vehicle and disappeared into the darkness on foot.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded quickly, launching a drone unit to scan the nearby woods. The aerial tech didn’t take long to spot 22-year-old Omar Sotero-Vera walking through the brush.
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He was arrested without a fight and later identified by the witness. Investigators say Sotero-Vera showed clear signs of being drunk and had injuries that matched the force of the crash.
According to the truck’s owner, the two had been out drinking after work; the owner hitched a ride home and left the keys with Sotero-Vera just to move the truck to avoid a tow.
The situation grew more complicated at the station. Sotero-Vera allegedly blew a 0.143 and 0.139 on breath tests—well over the Florida legal limit of 0.08. Deputies also confirmed with ICE that he had entered the country illegally three years ago.
Because of his immigration status, his charges—which include DUI and leaving the scene of an accident—have been upgraded by a level.
“I’m very proud of the witness who called us and the swift actions of my deputies who took this illegal criminal alien into custody. As drunk as he was it’s a miracle he didn’t hurt or kill anyone,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
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