Officials arrested the High Springs fire chief Friday after he was accused of drunk driving.
Fire Chief Bruce Raymond Gillingham was arrested after Florida Highway Patrol responded to a crash at about 5:20 p.m. on US Route 27 in High Springs, according to an FHP arrest report.
The driver of a Cadillac SUV told officers that Gillingham, 41, crashed into the back of his vehicle with his Toyota Camry during a stop, the report said. Gillingham’s car had front-end damage and the SUV had rear-end damage.
The SUV driver and an officer said Gillingham smelled like alcohol, the report said. The officer also said Gillingham had “red bloodshot eyes.”
Gillingham told the officer he had a beer and two mixed drinks at the Great Outdoors Restaurant, at 65 N. Main St., before the crash, the report said.
Officials took Gillingham to the Alachua County Jail, where he took two breath tests that showed he was about two times over the legal limit, the report said.
Gillingham was charged with DUI and damage to property. He declined to comment.
He was released from jail at 11:30 a.m. Saturday on his own recognizance.
Contact Katherine Wallace-Fernandez at kwallace-fernandez@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @katwf98.
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