A Naples man was arrested Thursday night and charged with DUI. The Florida Highway Patrol says a child was in the back seat of his vehicle at the time of the incident.
FHP arrested 46-year-old Richard Tirado at the 7-11 at Immokalee and Northbrooke Roads. A patrolman saw Tirado driving out of the gas station in the wrong direction, nearly slamming into his patrol car.
Troopers say the mother came to the scene to pick up the child.
"It's hard enough to know that people are driving irresponsibly without children in their car, let along with children in their car," said Meredith Wiacek, who lives nearby.
A similar scene played out a month ago when a woman was arrested for DUI and hit and run. Her daughter was in the car at the time she was pulled over on Northbrooke Drive.
"We're always watching out for dangerous drivers on the road and to have to watch for a driver who's drunk?, said Laura Moore.
Longtime residents say they are grateful the trooper stopped Tirado before he made it onto Immokalee Road.
"We raised two girls here and when they are out driving, that's the thing you think about, the other drivers."
Tirado was booked into the Collier County Jail on DUI and child neglect charges.
No one answered the door at his North Naples home Friday.
