Wrong-way DUI driver arrested following a crash on International Speedway Boulevard near Daytona Beach.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News 

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Nathan Zacharias, 27, of Deltona following his involvement in a wrong-way crash early Sunday on International Speedway Boulevard near Daytona Beach.

According to reports, Zacharias initiated the incident around 12:30 a.m. on March 20, 2022, after he crashed into an oncoming vehicle and narrowly missed several others, thus causing other drivers to swerve to avoid a head-on collision with his pickup.

Zacharias clipped the driver’s side mirror of one vehicle that swerved out of his way, while another car could not avoid a collision. Their vehicle sustained heavy damage and was inoperable, and two passengers went to the hospital for treatment. 

While deputies were conducting their investigation, it was evident that Zacharias was impaired but not injured. His eyes were glassy, his speech slurred, he was unsteady on his feet, reeked of alcohol, and deputies found several open and unopened beer cans on the floor of his vehicle.

This is Zacharias’ second DUI after he had his license restricted to business purposes only due to a prior DUI in August 2021. He claims to have been on his way home to Deltona Sunday morning (although he was driving east toward Daytona Beach when the crash occurred) when a deer caused him to swerve into the other vehicle.

Deputies arrested Zacharias on three counts of DUI with damage to persons or property, failure to obey driver’s license restrictions, and refusal to submit to DUI testing. Zacharias received an additional charge of making a threat against a law enforcement officer after he became verbally abusive and made use of racial slurs several times during transport. 

Currently, Zacharias is in custody at the Volusia County Branch Jail with a total bond of $9,000.