UPDATE (07/20/16): WJXT posted footage of Robinson veering across Beach Blvd.
JUST IN: Video from Beach & Southside when police say Denard Robinson's car goes across traffic, off road pic.twitter.com/8qRMhS5Gzf
— News4JAX (@wjxt4) July 20, 2016
Luckily there was barely anyone on the road at the time. It’s hard to say if the video proves anything one way or another, but at the very least it adds some context to the story.
ORIGINAL STORY (07/07/16): Chances are by now you’ve heard about the bizarre situation Jaguars running back Denard Robinson found himself in this past weekend.
Robinson found himself, and his Chevy Impala, submerged in a retention pond when trying to turn off of Beach Blvd onto Southside Blvd. in the early morning hours last Sunday.
When the police arrived, Robinson and his passenger were sound asleep with their car sinking into the pond. Robinson responded to a tap on his window by opening his eyes briefly, then going back to sleep. The officer tried to explain to Robinson and his passenger that the car was in a pond and sinking, but they both seemed to not be worried.
Robinson remained asleep while police attempted to remove his passenger, who didn’t want to leave the car. He was screened for intoxication, but the responding officers determined that Robinson was sober. He left the scene without a citation.
Now obviously, there are a few things that seem fishy here. How does someone sleep through their car taking a dive into a retention pond? Why go back to sleep upon realizing what happened?
It seems unlikely that Robinson and his passenger were that tired, even if it was 4:00 in the morning. The officers supposedly did not note what tests were performed to determine Robinson’s sobriety.
Interestingly, according to the Florida Times-Union, Robinson was cited for running a red light at the same intersection three years ago.
The incident piqued the curiosity of many, leading to national outlets like The New York Times reporting on it.
As a result of media inquiries, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has initiated a closer review of how the incident was handled.
Obviously, if Robinson was in any way impaired while driving, he should not have been allowed to leave without citation or arrest. It’s currently unclear whether the officers involved were thorough enough in determining his sobriety.
At the same time, it may truly have been a bizarre yet innocent accident brought on by a lack of sleep. Robinson currently earns the benefit of the doubt given that he was cleared by the officers who responded to the incident. For his part, Robinson offered the following apology on Twitter:
— Denard Robinson (@DenardX) July 5, 2016
What’s your take on the situation? Should Robinson have been cited? Let us know in the comments section below or on Twitter (@coastaljax).
