Man Charged With DUI After Striking Pedestrian: Police

CLEARWATER, FL — A 20-year-old Clearwater man has been charged with driving under the influence after being accused of striking a pedestrian with his car.

Around midnight Saturday, Ezequiel Mezquite was driving a Toyota Camry west in the 1900 block of Gulf-to-Bay near Arcturas Avenue when police said he struck a 35-year-old Largo man who was trying to cross the street outside the crosswalk.

Police said Mezquite showed signs of impairment and was charged with driving under the influence and possession of marijuana.

The pedestrian was taken to Morton Plant Hospital as a trauma alert with life-threatening injuries. He was later transferred to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. His family has asked that his name not be released.