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Gainesville Mayor Craig Lowe
Florida Highway Patrol troopers find Lowe asleep behind steering wheel

Gainesville Mayor Craig Lowe was arrested Thursday morning on charges of DUI with property damage, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A trooper was called to a crash in the area of NE 21st Street and NE 156th Avenue in Alachua County around 2:28 a.m., according to FHP Sgt. Tracy Pace.

When officers arrived around 3:45 a.m., authorities found Lowe asleep behind the wheel of his car. They said Lowe appeared to be intoxicated and his silver Honda Civic was badly damaged.

The FHP said Lowe told authorities he fell asleep while driving and that was the cause of the crash.

Lowe admitted to having three beers earlier in the night, troopers said. A field sobriety test was performed, and although Lowe tested under the limit, the arresting officer concluded he was impaired at the time of the crash.

Lowe is headed toward a runoff election against Ed Braddy in April.