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A driver described as a “habitual” offender was recently caught on camera driving in reverse along a bustling Florida road, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Department.
The department reported that on March 13, they received numerous calls about a silver sedan traveling backwards on SR 100, a heavily trafficked highway in northeast Florida.
Footage from the scene captures the silver car navigating backwards through a median on the busy roadway.
William Murphy III, the driver, explained to deputies that he believed reversing to an AutoZone store was his best course of action after experiencing what he claimed was a mechanical issue with his vehicle.
The sheriff’s office revealed that their Time Crime Center was able to track the vehicle to a Panda Express parking lot. Eventually, deputies intercepted the car near SR 100 and Airport Road once it had been turned around and was headed in the right direction.
The driver, identified as William Murphy III, 47, of Palm Coast, said the car had a mechanical issue, and he “thought the best option” was to drive it backward to AutoZone, officials said.
“Except his mechanical issues evaporated when deputies got behind him … or was it in front of him?” the sheriff’s office said.
Florida man William Murphy III, a habitual offender with 10-plus prior convictions, claimed a mechanical issue forced him to drive backwards on SR 100 before his arrest. (Flagler County Sheriff’s Department)
In police worn body camera video, Murphy is heard attempting to explain away his reverse driving.
“I didn’t think that I was that bad … you know what I’m saying … I wasn’t even swerving or anything like that or driving fast,” Murphy told the deputy.
“You were driving backward on the road!” the deputy is heard replying.
Flagler County deputies arrested Palm Coast man William Murphy III for habitual driving while license suspended after he was caught on camera driving backwards on SR 100. (Flagler County Sheriff’s Department)
Deputies arrested Murphy for habitual driving while license suspended or revoked, saying he had 10-plus prior convictions.
Murphy was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and later released on $1,000 bond.
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