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Century Man Sentenced After DUI, Fleeing Crash, And Driving Home
September 2, 2025
A Century man was sentenced for fleeing a DUI crash and driving home in a case brought by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Willie Eugene Cottrell, now 68, was sentenced to 12 months probation for DUI and was cited for leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, and his driver’s license was also suspended for 12 months.
On June 6, Cottrell veered off the road, overturned his Nissan Versa, and hit a wire fence on Highway 4A near Bass Road, according to an FHP report. The vehicle made at least one rotation before coming to a final rest on its tires. Cottrell then called 911, and Escambia County Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded.
He became verbally abusive to EMS personnel in the back of an ambulance and fled through the rear doors, according to an arrest report, before getting back in his Nissan and driving home about 1.5 miles to his residence on Backwoods Road.
A trooper responded to his residence, noting he smelled strongly of alcohol and was slurring his words. He refused a field sobriety test, but the trooper said his impairment from alcohol “was extreme and obvious” and placed him under arrest. Cottrell later provided two breath samples, both showing a breath alcohol content of 0.164, over twice the legal limit of 0.08, according to the arrest report.
Comments
4 Responses to “Century Man Sentenced After DUI, Fleeing Crash, And Driving Home”
He’ll be punished more harsh when he violates his probation than he did for the DUI. Yeah people can get a slap on wrist for DUI but certain no bond jail for violation of probation. He’ll get his time….just give it time.
It may not be the judges. It may be the sentencing guidelines issued by the state.
Escambia County is slap full of Lazy prosecutors, and weak judges.
Slap on the wrist. It’s amazing he didn’t kill someone. He should have had a year in jail, not probation and lost his license for life. I can almost promise you he’ll be back to drinking and driving again way before his probation is up.