Early Thursday morning, a DUI-related crash on the Mathews Bridge resulted in serious injuries and the arrest of a 30-year-old man. Jacksonville Sheriff's Office reports that Aleksandr Bratulin was charged with multiple DUI offenses after he crashed his Ford Ranger into a patrol car that was stopped to assist a disabled vehicle. According to First Coast News, the bridge was closed for approximately four hours as a result of the incident.
The initial crash occurred as a JSO officer was assisting a man with a flat tire, with his patrol vehicle's emergency lights activated for visibility. Bratulin's vehicle struck the patrol car and propelled it into the car with the flat tire. According to Action News Jax, the driver of the disabled vehicle was transported to the hospital with a leg injury, while a passenger from the Ford Ranger was also hospitalized with serious injuries. The JSO officer involved received an abrasion from the crash.
After the collision, Bratulin appeared unresponsive and displayed signs of intoxication. "Bloodshot watery eyes" and a demeanor of confusion were noted by the officers, as News4Jax reported. Field sobriety exercises were conducted, and Bratulin was subsequently arrested.
Additional details from the arrest report reveal that after the crash, the JSO officer had to take control of Bratulin's vehicle to prevent further danger. The officer reported that the disabled car hit his knee, causing a small abrasion during the crash.
