A Florida man who was found unresponsive in his vehicle on the side of the road between Altamont and Winston on Jan. 23 has now been charged with driving while intoxicated and other violations.
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When Deputy Tyler Miller responded to a report of a vehicle on the side of the road, he found William L. Fabian, 50, Orlando, Fla., in a red Hyundai Elantra with North Carolina registration facing eastbound on the westbound shoulder of U.S. Highway 69. Fabian was unresponsive and the vehicle was still running, according to the probable cause report.
By pounding on the window, Deputy Miller eventually got Fabian to respond and out of the car. Fabian could not walk and had to be supported by the deputy. The car was still in drive, so Deputy Miller placed the car in park. Fabian refused to submit to a series of field sobriety tests, and the deputy placed him under arrest for driving while intoxicated. Fabian did not have a valid driver’s license.
Once at the sheriff’s office, Fabian refused the breath test, then agreed to it, and then refused to give a complete sample by only blowing for four seconds. Fabian then agreed to give a blood sample, then refused and became combative when the paramedic arrived to take the sample.
A criminal history check shows priors for driving while intoxicated in Florida, Tennessee, New York, Michigan, and twice in California, over a span of years from 2004 to 2016.
Fabian was arrested on Jan. 23 and transported to DDCRJ on a 24-hour investigative hold. On Jan. 24, Fabian was charged with DWI, habitual, B felony, no valid license, misdemeanor, and other traffic violations. Bond is set at $75,000 cash.