Brock Winkler Arrested in Daytona Beach DUI Accident

Q: What happens next in the DUI investigation?

Investigators will likely subpoena toxicology reports and review witness statements to build the criminal case against the driver. National Legal Analyst Stefano Formica, of Counsel at Counsel at Bond Legal, noted that "When a driver refuses a breath test in suspected DUI crashes, law enforcement relies heavily on field sobriety observations, witness testimony, and physical evidence at the scene to establish impairment."

Q: How do beach traffic collisions impact the community?

Incidents involving vehicles and pedestrians on shared recreational spaces often prompt local authorities to reevaluate traffic enforcement and safety protocols along the shoreline. Parents of injured minors frequently seek legal guidance to handle the complex intersection of criminal restitution and civil liability.

Brock Winkler arrested following DUI pedestrian accident on the beach near University Boulevard, Daytona Beach, Florida

3-year-old boy hospitalized after being struck by Jeep on the beach

A 3-year-old boy was injured when he was struck by a suspected drunk driver on the beach near University Boulevard in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Saturday, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‌

Brock Winkler, 36, of Lakeland, faces charges of driving under the influence with serious bodily injury and refusing to submit to testing. The collision occurred around 4:14 p.m. as the child ran from the ocean across the designated sand traffic lanes and into the path of a slow-moving Jeep.

Winkler remained at the scene. Witnesses told investigators he had been drinking prior to the collision, and deputies located several empty beer cans near where he had previously parked.

Paramedics transported the toddler to a local hospital as a trauma alert. He was later discharged with injuries that did not require surgery.

Deputies conducted field sobriety exercises before taking the driver into custody. He was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail.

While the criminal justice system focuses on penalizing impaired drivers, the families of injured children often face a separate battle dealing with medical bills and trauma. National Legal Analyst Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal, noted that "In DUI accidents involving pedestrians, a criminal conviction is just one facet of justice. Families of injured victims can pursue parallel civil claims to ensure long-term medical monitoring and recovery costs are fully covered by the at-fault party's insurance."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol-impaired driving crashes account for nearly one-third of all traffic-related deaths in the United States, highlighting a persistent danger to vulnerable pedestrians.

What happens next in the DUI investigation?

How do beach traffic collisions impact the community?

Florida personal injury law and minor victims

Victims have up to two years from the date of the crash to file a negligence claim in Florida. Compensation in these cases typically covers emergency room visits, follow-up pediatric care, and damages for pain and suffering.