Punta Gorda man charged with DUI

PUNTA GORDA — Florida Highway Patrol arrested a man Saturday after he crashed his truck while allegedly driving drunk on Interstate 75.

Ryan Dale Pflaum, 48, has been charged with one count each of DUI, DUI with property damage, and violation of probation.

The arrest report states Pflaum was pulled out of his overturned pickup by a person who witnessed the wreck.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Pflaum was found at the scene of a crash around 11:30 a.m. Friday at I-75's mile marker 170 near the Kings Highway exit.

The arrest report noted the overturned pickup damaged a guardrail.

A civilian at the scene said he had pulled the truck's driver out of his pickup just after the crash.

EMS staff at the scene reported smelling alcohol on Pflaum's breath, the arrest report stated.

Troopers conducted sobriety tests with Pflaum, but he allegedly chose to stop the exercises partway through and asked for an ambulance.

Pflaum was taken to a hospital for treatment. Once he was medically cleared, he was taken to Charlotte County Jail.

Last year, Pflaum pleaded no contest to charges of perjury and making a false report.

Deputies at the time alleged he had made a false claim his vehicle had been stolen "to hide the fact that a crash had occurred."

At the time of the crash Friday, Pflaum was on probation for his prior no-contest plea charge.

Pflaum was released from Charlotte County Jail on $3,000 total bond. His arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 7.