A man is facing drunk driving charges after he allegedly crashed his SUV into a protected sea turtle nest on Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida, on Sunday, WSVN reports.
Manuel Ortega Orellana, 42, was reportedly driving at a high rate of speed on the beach, dangerously close to volunteers and wildlife. According to WSVN. The incident happened Sunday evening as volunteers were monitoring the nest in search of newly hatched chicks.
Jason, a volunteer sea turtle watcher, described the incident as “unacceptable behaviour”, adding: “This shouldn't happen.”
Cellphone video shows the Hummer speeding across the sand several times, as Orellana allegedly drove over a loggerhead sea turtle nest, which is protected as an endangered species under Florida law and was closely monitored by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission volunteers, WSVN reported.
Loggerhead turtles have a low chance of survival, with only one in every 1,000 hatchlings making it to adulthood.
Holly, a night volunteer, said she was concerned about possible damage to the nest. “If the turtles had been near the surface, it would have definitely killed a lot of them,” she said. Volunteers will continue to monitor the nest for signs of a collision, the media reported. (Related: “He was basically hovering over her”: Homeless man allegedly assaults woman sunbathing in broad daylight)
Police arrested Orellana on the beach and charged him with DUI. He is currently being held in the Broward County Jail on immigration detention. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has opened an investigation into the incident.
