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Man Who Killed Teen In Hit-and-Run Crash Had Failed To Activate Breathalyzer Interlock

WFTV.com reports that Florida State Troopers arrested Eric Wydra last Thursday. Wydra was driving a Pontiac Grand-Am when he allegedly hit 15-year-old Anthony Rodriguez in November last year, killing him. At the time of the Florida crash, Wydra didn't have a license because it was revoked. He has been charged with leaving the scene of the crash.

According to Kim Montes, spokeswoman for the Florida Highway patrol in Orange County, Wydra had been convicted of drunken driving twice in the past, and required to install a breathalyzer ignition interlock device in his car. Back in May 2010, the system was installed and verified by the examiner. With an interlock system, the driver has to blow into the device which will prevent the engine ignition if a higher than legal alcohol content is detected.

In June, Wydra failed to show up for the regular check-ups to see if the system is still in place. The vendor notified him that if he did not show up, the device would be turned off, preventing him from using his car. Wydra simply got rid of the car and bought himself a Pontiac, the car involved in the hit-and-run crash that killed Rodriguez.

Montes admits there is a serious problem with the enforcement of driving license suspension and DUI convictions: "We have 100,000 drivers that are suspended at this time and should not be behind the wheel, and this is an ongoing problem," she said.

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