A suspected drunk driver tore through the IRONMAN Jacksonville course near the Five Points neighborhood on Saturday, speeding past runners and cyclists in a series of heart-stopping close calls before officers finally shut him down near Riverside Park. Body-worn camera footage later showed the car weaving toward crowded areas with multiple near-misses, but officials said no one was injured. The arrest wrapped up a tense stretch of the day as Jacksonville hosted its first full-distance IRONMAN, which brought widespread road closures across downtown and Riverside.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, more than 500 officers were assigned to the race footprint, and the agency had already warned drivers about planned lane and waterway closures affecting Duval and parts of St. Johns County. Officials urged motorists to study the course maps ahead of time and plan alternate routes before race day.
PIT Maneuver Ends Riverside Pursuit; Suspect Taken Into Custody
Officers stationed along the cycling course saw a vehicle barrel into the path of competitors and move recklessly through the route, then tried to pull it over. The driver kept going, triggering a pursuit by nearby DUI and traffic units because the car posed a clear danger to people in the area, as reported by News4JAX. DUI Officer Ernesto Valerio used a PIT maneuver to stop the car near Riverside Park, and other officers quickly moved in to arrest 62-year-old Darrell Simon. Body-worn cameras captured multiple near-misses, and officials warned that "this incident could've led to a tragedy."
Event Scale and Local Reaction
The stop unfolded during Jacksonville's inaugural full-distance IRONMAN, a 140.6-mile race that threaded downtown, Riverside and coastal stretches. That sprawling footprint helped explain the closures and heavy police presence that kept the course secure, according to a riverfront race preview. Some residents and local officials voiced frustration about blocked roads and a few close calls tied to the event, while organizers urged the public to rely on official channels for up-to-date maps and timing information.
Medical Calls and Near-Misses
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue and St. Johns County agencies fielded a busy weekend, responding to nearly 60 EMS calls tied to the event and transporting 18 patients to local hospitals, as reported by News4JAX. JFRD said none of the transports were considered life-threatening. St. Johns County officials confirmed that at least one cyclist was struck by a vehicle during the bike leg of the race.
Legal Next Steps
Authorities say Simon was booked on eight felony counts along with nearly a dozen misdemeanors and other violations, and the arrest record shows prior DUI arrests within the past decade. The sheriff's office described the case as an active investigation. Prosecutors are expected to review the file next, and formal charges and court dates will follow the normal booking process.
