Woman Blew Nearly 5 Times Over Legal Limit: Deputies

BRANDON, FL — A 36-year-old Brandon woman was nearly five times over the legal limit when she drove her Jeep Wrangler into another car Wednesday night, according to Hillsborough County deputies.

The incident that led to Mary Zoccoli’s Dec. 7 arrest took place around 9 p.m. Deputies say Zoccoli was heading southbound on Lakewood Drive, attempting to make a right turn onto Thomas Street at that time. When she did, her 2016 Wrangler struck the front of a 2014 Mazda 3 driven by Sofia Zarolnick, 43, of Seffner, deputies say.

When authorities arrived, they noticed “Zoccoli had slurred speech, glassy eyes, unstable balance and was emitting a strong odor of alcohol,” an email from the agency said. “Zoccoli showed extreme signs of impairment during field sobriety tests.”

She was subsequently charged with DUI with property damage. Breath samples provided by Zoccoli registered .379 and .380, the sheriff’s office said. Those numbers are roughly 4.7 times over Florida’s legal limit of 0.08. Deputies also charged her with DUI with a BAC over .15 based on the breath test results.

Zarolnick was not injured in the crash, but her vehicle suffered $800 in damage, the email noted. Zoccoli was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail, but later released in lieu of $1,000 bond. Jail records indicate she was also arrested on July 29 on a DUI charge with a BAC over .15.

Booking photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office