A man is facing DUI charges after allegedly driving an SUV through a protected sea turtle nest Sunday on Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida, WSVN reported.
Manuel Ortega Orellana, 42, was reportedly seen speeding across the beach, driving dangerously close to volunteers and wildlife, according to WSVN. The incident occurred Sunday evening as volunteers monitored the nest for hatchlings.
Jason, a volunteer with Sea Turtle Oversight Protection, described the alleged event as “unacceptable behavior,” adding, “There’s no reason for this.”
Cellphone footage appeared to capture the Hummer making several high-speed passes through the sandy area. Orellana allegedly drove over a loggerhead turtle nest, a species considered endangered and protected under Florida law. Volunteers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had been monitoring the nest closely, WSVN reported.
Loggerhead sea turtles face long odds for survival, with only one in a thousand hatchlings reaching adulthood.
Holly, a nightly volunteer, expressed concern over potential damage to the nest. “If those turtles were close to the surface, he absolutely could have killed a whole bunch of them,” she said. The volunteers will continue to monitor the nest for any signs of impact, the outlet stated. (RELATED: ‘He Was Basically Grinding On Her’: Homeless Man Allegedly Assaults Sunbather In Broad Daylight)
Police arrested Orellana on the beach and charged him with DUI. He is currently being held in Broward County Jail on an immigration hold. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has launched an investigation into the incident.