In a shocking turn of events, Craig R. Hilgenberg, the 37-year-old assistant principal at Lincoln Avenue Academy in Lakeland, Florida, found himself on the wrong side of the law early Sunday morning. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) arrested Hilgenberg for driving under the influence (DUI) after he was spotted driving in the wrong direction on I-4 between Plant City and Lakeland.
The incident unfolded around 1:30 a.m. when FHP troopers responded to reports of a vehicle traveling east in the westbound lanes of I-4. As troopers approached Exit 32 (US-98), they encountered Hilgenberg behind the wheel of a red Honda Accord, navigating the interstate in the opposite direction. Despite attempts to pull him over, Hilgenberg continued on his erratic path, prompting FHP to resort to Pursuit Intervention Techniques (P.I.T.) maneuvers to bring the vehicle to a stop.
Upon apprehension, Hilgenberg displayed signs of impairment, including the smell of alcohol, slurred speech, and vomiting in the Polk County Jail parking lot. He refused to participate in field sobriety exercises or provide a breath sample. The subsequent arrest occurred at approximately 1:46 a.m.