An Alto man was arrested in Gainesville over the weekend for driving under the influence and racing in the city.
The Hall County Sheriff’s Office reported that a deputy was conducting traffic surveillance on Jesse Jewell Parkway near the intersection of EE Butler Parkway at around 2 a.m. Sunday. While surveying the area, the deputy saw two pickup trucks that appeared to be racing on the roadway.
The deputy was able to catch up with the two vehicles at the light on Jesse Jewell Parkway and Downey Boulevard. When the traffic light turned green, the drivers of both vehicles allegedly accelerated side-by-side to speeds between 55 and 60 mph.
The deputy initiated a traffic stop, in which one driver stopped on White Sulphur Road while the other sped away and turned southbound on I-985.
During the traffic stop, the deputy determined the diver, Juan Diego Lara-Romero, 19, was allegedly under the influence.
Lara-Romero was taken into custody without incident on charges of DUI-under age 21 and racing on highway/streets. He posted a bond of $1,430 and was released from the Hall County Jail later the same day, HCSO said.
