An individual suspected of driving under the influence was taken into custody on Monday evening for allegedly crashing his Jaguar into a retired sheriff’s deputy who was collecting debris from the road.
Retired Polk County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Dan Cooley, aged 69, pulled over, activated his hazard lights, and proceeded to clear a tote that had fallen off his vehicle onto the center lane of Van Fleet Drive in Bartow. It was during this cleanup effort that Aaron Wells, aged 50, collided with him.
Medics arrived and rushed Cooley to Bartow Regional Medical Center, where he was resuscitated several times but ultimately did not survive.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, upon arrival at the scene, deputies detected the smell of alcohol emanating from Wells, who also exhibited slurred speech and watery eyes. Wells showed signs of impairment during the field sobriety assessments and even attempted to tamper with a breath alcohol test. Despite his efforts, his breath samples registered at .092 and .105, surpassing the legal limit of .08. Wells admitted to deputies that he had consumed multiple beers prior to driving.
An 11-year-old girl was also in Wells’ car and was not physically injured.
Wells was charged with DUI manslaughter and negligent child abuse.
“Sergeant Dan Cooley was a public servant for over 20 years, and had been enjoying retirement for nearly as long, when he was tragically and senselessly struck and killed by an impaired motorist,” Police County Sheriff Grady Judd said. “The driver clearly has no regard for human life – not only choosing to get behind the wheel drunk, but doing so with a child in the car. Our prayers are with Dan Cooley’s family and loved ones.”
Cooley was hired as a detention deputy in 1986 and promoted to sergeant in 2002. He retired in 2007.
