Drunken Florida Man CRASHES Into Retired Hero Cop—KILLING Him While Kid Was in Car!
A retired sergeant’s final act of public service turned deadly when an allegedly intoxicated driver plowed into him on a Florida road. 🌐 #News #BartowFL #Florida #Crime
BARTOW, FL — A drunk driver behind the wheel of a Jaguar struck and killed a retired Florida sheriff’s sergeant who was trying to clear road debris Monday evening, with the suspect’s 11-year-old passenger watching the tragedy unfold, authorities said.
The Fatal Collision
Aaron Wells, 50, was driving his 2008 Jaguar S-Type westbound with a child passenger when he allegedly hit former Sergeant Dan Cooley, 69, who had pulled over to retrieve a fallen storage container from the middle lane of Van Fleet Drive around 7:40 p.m., according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
The Impact of Alcohol
Deputies reported Wells showed clear signs of intoxication at the scene, including the smell of alcohol on his breath, slurred speech, and watery eyes.
Blood alcohol tests later revealed levels of .092 and .105 — well above Florida’s legal limit of .08. Wells allegedly admitted to consuming “several beers” before driving.
A Life of Service Cut Short
Cooley had served over two decades with the sheriff’s office, starting as a jail deputy in 1986 before rising to sergeant in 2002.
He had been enjoying nearly 15 years of retirement when the incident occurred.
Sheriff Grady Judd condemned the senseless loss, noting Wells’ apparent disregard for safety by allegedly driving impaired with a minor in the vehicle.
The Aftermath
The child passenger was unharmed and reported sun glare during the crash.
Wells faces charges of DUI manslaughter and negligent child abuse. As of Wednesday, he remained in Polk County Jail.
Wells is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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RELATED TOPICS: Accidents | Crime | Florida
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