The day after Christmas 2022, Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers were called to an incident where a Chevrolet Trailblazer was found in a ditch along I-10 in Columbia County. The driver, 52-year-old Jeffrey Keith McLendon from Pelham, Georgia, was found unresponsive. It was later confirmed that the crash was due to driving under the influence (DUI).
Emergency responders were unable to get a reaction from the unconscious McLendon and administered Narcan before taking him to a nearby hospital. As is standard procedure, the FHP troopers took an inventory of the vehicle before it was removed. They discovered a significant amount of fentanyl on the floorboard, enough to kill more than 14,000 people, according to a news release.
The fentanyl, found in a plastic bag, weighed approximately 29 grams. When questioned about the drugs, McLendon gave a vague response and failed to provide any further explanation. Other items recovered from the floor of the vehicle included several straws and a container of cigars.
Following medical treatment for his injuries, McLendon was arrested and taken to Columbia County Jail. He faced multiple charges including fentanyl trafficking, drug paraphernalia possession, and DUI, along with a traffic citation for careless driving.
McLendon was responsible for $4,000 in property damage and was fined $187 as per court documents. He was found guilty and sentenced on January 17, more than two years after the incident. While he was credited with 388 days served in the Columbia County Jail, McLendon is still to pay off over half a million dollars in fines and court fees.
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