A man who drove into an activated railroad crossing in June has been sentenced to jail time on a charge of driving under the influence.
Joe David Wheeler, 54, of Oxford, was spotted driving into the activated railroad crossing shortly after 1 a.m. at East County Road 462 at NE 43rd Way in Wildwood, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. It appeared he had been drinking.
He failed field sobriety exercises and admitted to a deputy that he had been drinking rum at his home. He also admitted he had “got away for a long time” with drinking and driving and that law enforcement finally “caught him.” He refused to provide a breath sample.
Wheeler pleaded no contest to a charge of driving under the influence on Feb. 12 in Sumter County Court.
He was sentenced to 60 days in the Sumter County Detention Center. He was placed on probation for six months and will lose his driver’s license for six months. He was also ordered to perform 50 hours of community service.
