FHP: Driver Charged With DUI After Crashing Into Pedestrians on I-95 in Viera, One Victim May Lose Leg

Crash Happened on I-95 near mile marker 193 in Viera

BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – A 29-year-old man was taken into custody following a serious crash on Interstate 95 in Brevard County that left multiple people injured, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

One of the victims may lose a leg due to the extent of their injuries.

Elijah Searles is facing multiple charges, including DUI causing serious bodily harm, reckless driving resulting in injury, and three counts of DUI involving damage to persons or property.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Troopers responded to the scene around 10:15 p.m. near Mile Marker 193 on the southbound side of I-95. Exit 193 at Viera Boulevard has a diverging diamond interchange.

FHP investigators said Searles was behind the wheel of a Mazda3 when he struck three pedestrians who were standing on the right shoulder of I-95. The group had pulled over to work on one of three parked vehicles, which had a dead battery.

According to a witness who had reportedly followed Searles for approximately five miles before the crash, the Mazda had been swerving, leaving its lane, and driving along both shoulders of the highway.

The vehicle ultimately veered to the right, colliding with the parked vehicles and the pedestrians.

One of the individuals struck suffered a severe open fracture to his right leg, and EMTs arrived to find the victim with a tourniquet applied by the other two pedestrians using T-shirts and belts.

Authorities later received word that the injury was so critical that doctors would need to amputate the man’s leg.

Searles allegedly told troopers that he was returning home from his job as a pharmacist at a Publix in Port St. John and claimed he was unaware that he had hit any vehicles or people.

FHP investigators said Searles performed poorly on field-sobriety exercises, but breath samples collected around 12:40 a.m. the next day registered 0.0 BAC, and a urine sample was requested and obtained for a full screen.

Searles was booked into the Brevard County Jail and released after posting a $22,000 bond.

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