Indo-Canadian Father Detained in Florida for Drunk Driving with Four-Month-Old Daughter

Toronto, Dec 18: In a distressing incident, a 30-year-old Indo-Canadian resident of Ontario, Peeyush Gupta, has been apprehended in the US state of Florida on charges of driving under the influence (DUI) and child neglect. The arrest stems from an incident where Gupta, allegedly intoxicated, crashed his vehicle with his four-month-old daughter inside.

Gupta was taken into custody last week and is currently held in Monroe County’s Key West jail facility, facing two felony child neglect charges along with a misdemeanor DUI charge, as reported by Miami-based WPLG news channel.

On December 12, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding a red vehicle crashing into a concrete wall on the Overseas Highway in the Florida Keys. Despite the collision, Gupta continued driving erratically, “speeding up and slowing down,” eventually stopping at a gas station.

Deputies observed Gupta’s vehicle “swerving from side to side” and tailgating other vehicles as he left the gas station. The subsequent traffic stop revealed Gupta’s wife, also reportedly under the influence, and their crying infant inside the car.

During the arrest, Gupta, who emitted a strong odor of alcohol, disclosed that he had traveled from Canada to Miami and then to Key West, where he consumed a pitcher of Budweiser “within five minutes.”

While Gupta failed sobriety tests and was taken into custody, his wife informed deputies that the infant was crying due to hunger. The couple had intended to drive from Key West to Miami to obtain food for the baby.

Based on Gupta’s impaired driving and the lack of provisions for the infant, deputies charged him with child neglect without great bodily harm. Authorities promptly notified the Florida Department of Children and Families to ensure the welfare of the child.