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Palm Coast Man, Apparently Drunk, Drives His Car Into Publix Retention Pond on Belle Terre

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A pair of bus drivers called in their spotting of the Honda in the retention pond at 6:41 Wednesday morning. (© FlaglerLive)
A pair of bus drivers called in their spotting of the Honda in the retention pond at 6:41 Wednesday morning. (© FlaglerLive)

At 6:41 Wednesday morning, two bus drivers driving by the Town Center Publix at Belle Terre Parkway and Easthampton Blvd. in Palm Coast called 911 to report an odd sight: a car was in the retention pond by the store.

The car, a 1993 Honda Del Sol, was unoccupied. It was facing north, about one-third submerged, mostly on the passenger side, giving the driver’s side ample room to get out. There was no one there when deputies arrived on scene, according to a sheriff’s spokesman. But there were no indications of foul play, the sheriff’s office said.

The car belongs to Joshua Michael Hilton of 32 Rainbow Lane in Palm Coast. Earlier, at 2:52 a.m., deputies had been called out in reference to Hilton, who was observed in the area of Point Pleasant Drive and Belle Terre Parkway–drunk, but on foot. Deputies took him back to his house. There were no indications at the time that he had been involved in a crash.

It now appears that Hilton may have driven the car into the pond, walked away, then been spotted by police and taken home, with his car spotted at daybreak.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. Bill says

    When is this country going to BAN alcohol ? Oh that’s right, they make WAY to much money on alcohol taxes. Let’s just BAN everything else that they can’t tax..or until they CAN tax it !!!

    Reply

    • Nancy N. says

      Have you noticed how well banning drugs has worked? And have you read any history about how well it worked last time we tried banning alcohol in this country?

      I’m not exactly a fan of alcohol myself but let’s pay attention to history before drawing a line in the sand.

      Reply

  5. Happening now says

    The advertising of alcohol in all the new openings of bars is mind boggling. Now a Hard Rock in Daytona???? Money money money.

    Reply

  6. B says

    How about blaming the driver and not the alcohol? He chose to drink and drive. Taking responsibility for our own actions before and after seems to be the biggest issue anymore.

    Reply

    • LC says

      100 percent correct. Whatever the current scapegoat happens to be is used to shape an agenda at the demise of personal accountability.

      Reply

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