Drunken driver hits 6-year-old Haines City boy getting off school bus, Polk sheriff says

HAINES CITY — A 6-year-old Haines City boy was hit getting off the school bus by a drunken driver on Wednesday afternoon, according to Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Robert Reedy, 67, has been arrested and charged with one misdemeanor count each of driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol content of 0.15 or higher, reckless driving and driving under the influence resulting in property damage.

Polk County deputies responded to a report of a potential impaired driver about 5 p.m. Wednesday at U.S. 17-92 and Chanler Drive. Upon arriving at the scene, deputies found Reedy had been driving a white Jeep when he attempted to pass a car and a school bus at the same time.

In attempting to pass, Reedy struck a 6-year-old boy who was exiting the school bus. The boy was taken to the hospital, where he was treated for bruises and abrasions and released.

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Deputies said Reedy had bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech, his breath had a strong odor of alcoholic beverages and he was unsteady on his feet, according to an affidavit. Reedy declined to take a standardized field sobriety test, according to deputies.

Reedy was placed under arrest and taken to the Polk County Jail. In the jail, Reedy was placed under a 20-minute observation period before being asked to provide breath samples. Testing showed Reedy's alcohol content to be 0.153 and 0.162. The legal limit is 0.08.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on X @SaraWalshFl.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: PCSO: Drunken driver hits Haines City boy getting off school bus