Lakeland Emergency Nurse Drives Into Pond With 8-Year-Old In SUV

LAKELAND, FL -- An emergency room nurse at Lakeland Regional Health was arrested for driving under the influence and negligent child abuse without bodily harm on Wednesday evening, Sept. 21, after driving into a retention pond in Mulberry, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were called when Michelle Snover, 33, of Lakeland, drove her SUV into a retention pond with her 8-year-old daughter inside the vehicle.

The 8-year-old was able to get out of the SUV and swim to the road, said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd during a press conference Thursday. She then went to a neighbor’s home for help.

The neighbors called 911 and were on the phone with dispatchers as Snover was attempting to get out of the water.

“Oh my God, she’s falling into the water," the caller told the dispatcher. The caller told the dispatcher, “This girl is drunk, like, so bad,” the caller said.

Investigators said Snover’s blood alcohol level was a .13. In Florida, a person is considered legally intoxicated with a blood alcohol level of .08 and above.

Snover admitted to deputies that she drank three to four vodka fruit punch drinks.

This is her second DUI arrest. She was arrested on Sept. 10. 2016 and sentenced to nine month of probation.

She was released from probation supervision early on May 22, 2018.

“Michelle knows better," said Polk Sheriff Grady Judd. "She works in an emergency room and she sees the aftermath of horrible crashes and tragedies. This is at least the second time she’s been arrested for DUI.”

Image via Polk Sheriff