Assistant principal in Lakeland arrested for driving under influence on wrong way of I-4: FHP
(Left) Photo courtesy: Polk County Public Schools (Right) Photo courtesy: Polk County Sheriff's Office
LAKELAND, Fla. - An assistant principal in Lakeland was arrested for driving under the influence early Sunday morning after driving the wrong way on I-4, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Craig R. Hilgenberg, 37, of Lakeland, was arrested after he drove in the wrong direction on I-4 between Plant City and Lakeland in the early hours of Sunday, according to FHP.
Hilgenberg is the assistant principal at Lincoln Avenue Academy in Lakeland and was named a finalist for Assistant Principal of the Year in Polk County for 2023.
VIDEO: Trooper chases wrong-way driver on I-4, suspect arrested for DUI
FHP troopers responded to the area of I-4 at County Line Road at around 1:30 a.m. after they were notified of a car driving east in the westbound lanes of the interstate.
As the responding trooper approached Exit 32 (US-98), they witnessed a red Honda Accord driving east on the inside shoulder of I-4 in the westbound lanes.
The trooper then activated their emergency lights and siren, but the Honda passed the trooper in the center lane of I-4 headed east. The trooper performed a P.I.T. maneuver to try to end the pursuit safely, according to FHP, but Hilgenberg kept going.
A second P.I.T. maneuver was necessary to stop the car on the inside shoulder of I-4 in the median. FHP said Hilgenberg smelled like alcohol and had slurred speech and was arrested at around 1:46 a.m., according to the arrest report.
He was taken to the Polk County Jail where he threw up in the parking lot. Authorities said the vomit smelled like alcohol. Officials said he refused to perform field sobriety exercises or provide a breath sample.
He was charged with one count of fleeing with disregard of safety to persons or property and one count of driving under the Influence of alcohol or drugs.
Hilgenberg is on administrative leave while the Polk County Public Schools reviews the incident, according to a spokesperson with the district.