PANAMA CITY BEACH — A Panama City man was alledgedly intoxicated when he drove away from a karaoke bar and package store Friday morning and struck four parked cars at a nearby apartment building, the Florida Highway Patrol reported in a press release.
According to the FHP release, Cedric L. Austin, 23, left Newby’s Too just before 2:30 a.m. in a 2004 Ford Expedition. He made a left turn out of the parking lot of the lounge store toward Harbour’s Edge Apartments at 4010 Thomas Drive, veered to his left across the opposite lane and over the sidewalk into a row of unoccupied cars parked outside the apartment building, the release said.
Austin and his passenger Justin T. Coleman, 27, of Bonifay, exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot only to be caught by Bay County Sheriff’s Office a short time later, the release said.
Both men had minor injuries.
Austin was charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, having an open container in a vehicle and for leaving the scene of the crash. He also had four outstanding warrants with the BCSO.