Lakeland man faces DUI charges after driving car into Lake Hollingsworth

LAKELAND — A Lakeland man is facing DUI charges after driving a car approximately 150 feet into Lake Hollingsworth early Wednesday morning.

Lakeland Police Department responded to a call at 4:29 a.m. Wednesday reporting a vehicle had crossed the intersection at Lake Hollingsworth Drive and Ingraham Avenue, crashing into the lake. An officer arrived to see two individuals sitting on the roof of a sinking black four-door sedan, according to police reports.

Lakeland Fire Department arrived on the scene and used a boat to bring the two people to shore. Philip Stuart Peterson, 28, said he was driving the car home from a friend's house, wasn't paying attention and drove into the lake, according to a police.

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A female passenger in Peterson's car had lacerations as result of the crash and was transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center for treatment.

An officer conducted a field sobriety test and found Peterson showed signs of impairment and placed him under arrest. Peterson's breath test results came in .173 and .169 — more than twice the legal blood alcohol limit of .08 — according to police reports.

Peterson, 28, was arrested and faces three misdemeanor charges of driving while intoxicated, DUI with property damage/personal injury, and DUI at .15 or higher.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545.