Florida drunk driver Darrell Simon plows into the Jacksonville IRONMAN racetrack during a police chase
Heartbreaking video captured the moment a suspected drunk driver crashed into Florida’s IRONMAN race, sparking a heated argument with police fearing he was “going to kill somebody.”
Darrell Simon, 62, is accused of driving his white Ford Focus through the streets of Jacksonville, Fla., as thousands of athletes competed in the inaugural IRONMAN Jacksonville race on May 16.
Spectators reported that Simon had jumped over obstacles and was riding a closed-loop bike and running course, “putting the lives of athletes and spectators at risk,” the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said.
Officer Ernesto Valerio — who had been blocking traffic at the intersection as the runners raced through the 26.2-mile stretch of the race — turned his cruiser around and ran down side streets to find Simon, according to dashcam video released by the sheriff’s office Tuesday.
Valerio, a police officer from the Specialized Traffic Unit, sounded his sirens trying to pull Simon over, but the driver swerved around the racetrack and almost hit a cyclist who was forced to swerve.
Police officer Aaron Sanchez, riding a motorcycle, stopped in front of Simon to stop him, but the driver who was in a frenzy got on a berm and escaped from where the police stopped him.
Simon’s entered the busy road before hitting a parked car after making a right turn, while Valerio hit the fleeing car.
“That’s it, I’m going to stop this boy, he’s going to kill someone,” said the policeman.
Valerio ran up to Simon’s car and did a PIT maneuver, clearing the wanted car as more police rushed to the car and trained their weapons on the driver.
Simon was arrested and charged with eight counts, including charges of fleeing or eluding a police officer, aggravated fleeing, operating while license revoked, and aggravated battery on a police officer.
He was also slapped about a dozen times for traffic violations.
This is Simon’s third DUI arrest in the past decade, according to officials.
He is currently being held at the Jacksonville Pretrial Facility on a $215,042 bond.
Simon’s next court date is scheduled for June 16, according to jail records reviewed by The Post.
No injuries were reported in the DUI police chase.
“We are incredibly proud of our police officers for putting their lives on the line this time to protect Ironman athletes and spectators from what could have been a tragedy,” the sheriff’s office said.
