A woman who was picking up her children from school was arrested on a drunk driving charge after a near miss with a school bus.
Erica Rae Akins, 35, of Ocklawaha, on Tuesday was driving a tan Acura which hit a curb causing a tire to “explode,” according to an arrest report from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. The Acura nearly hit a school bus.
An off-duty Ocala police officer flagged down a deputy who initiated a traffic stop at a Circle K at 6820 SE Maricamp Road. Akins said she was on her way to pick up her children at Lake Weir High School and Lake Weir Middle School. Her erratic driving had been captured on video by a witness.
The deputy pointed out that one of the Acura’s tires was shredded.
“Even if the tires are flat, I can still drive,” Akins replied.
She failed field sobriety exercises and provided breath samples that registered .229 and .222 blood alcohol content.
She was booked at the Marion County Jail on $1,000 bond.
