A 63-year-old reckless drunk driver who ignored street closings during the Riverside Jacksonville portion of the May 16 Ironman triathlon nearly hitting several competitors and spectators has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Darrell Keith Simon had been charged with 17 offenses and pleaded guilty Tuesday, Oct. 20, to driving under the influence (third time in 10 years), aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, leaving the scene of a crash involving injury, driving with a suspended or revoked license - habitual offender, possession of controlled substance paraphernalia and resisting police without violence.
Judge R. Anthony Salem's sentence includes additional conditions upon release such as five years' probation,
driver's license suspension for 10 years, DUI school and community service.
The Sheriff's Office released police dashcam video of Simon's recklessness at the traffic-secured event across Duval and St. Johns counties. Dozens of officers were assigned for safety precautions.
Ernesto Valerio was one of the officers who was blocking traffic so the athletes could complete their bike and run courses. After hearing on the radio about the driver, he caught up to the car and tried several times to pull the man over.
Another officer, Aaron Sanchez, also is seen attempting to stop the car with his motorcycle. Simon pulls over briefly but then drives onto the grass to lead officers on another pursuit going 60 mph.
Valerio eventually rams the car around a corner, but Simon keeps going.
"That's it! We gotta stop this guy. He's going to kill someone," the officer says.
"He is heading toward the runners. Stop him," another officer is heard advising over the police radio.
Valerio does so by bumping the vehicle into a spin at Riverside Park Place and Park Street, with other nearby officers assisting in the arrest.
Simon smelled of alcohol, his speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, according to his arrest report. He said he was trying to pick up his wife from her dialysis center.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Reckless driver at Ironman event pleads guilty, sentenced to 10 years
