Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – James Danen Metts, 54, was arrested last night and charged with failing to stop after a crash involving serious bodily injury, driving under the influence (fourth or subsequent offense), and driving without a valid license after he allegedly fled the scene of a crash that sent a victim to the hospital.

At about 7:04 p.m. on Sunday, a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper responded to the intersection of NW 98th Street and W. Newberry Road, where a green pickup truck had reportedly hit a silver 4Runner and fled. The driver of the 4Runner was transported to the hospital with injuries.

A witness at the scene of the accident provided a description of the pickup truck and its driver, who was located on NW 13th Avenue. The pickup truck reportedly had damage to the fender and wheel area and silver paint exchange on the front bumper and fender areas. The trooper reported finding several bottles of whiskey in the pickup truck, and two witnesses near the truck reportedly said that the driver, later identified as Metts, was “acting strange” and had gotten out of the pickup truck and “stumble[d] around,” then walked away until an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy detained him.

Metts reportedly told the Trooper that his brakes had failed before he hit the 4Runner, but then he blacked out and did not remember what happened. He reportedly denied drinking alcoholic beverages, but the Trooper reported that he could smell whiskey (the same odor as the bottles from the pickup truck) on his breath.

Post Miranda, Metts reportedly declined to answer any questions and refused to perform field sobriety exercises or submit a breath sample.

Metts has six felony convictions (one violent) and 13 misdemeanor convictions (three violent). He was issued a criminal traffic citation (a summons to appear at a future hearing) on March 9 for having a stolen tag on his vehicle; the citation noted that he was identified via his Florida ID card but did not cite him for driving without a valid license. Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held on $121,000 bail.

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. 

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