3-year-old running in traffic lane hit by Jeep on beach; driver charged with DUI

Date Added: April 26, 2026 8:19 am

A 3-year-old boy is recovering after he was struck by a Jeep on the beach Saturday afternoon.

Deputies responded to the incident around 4:14 p.m. Saturday on the beach near the University Boulevard parking lot. Witnesses reported the 3-year-old was running across the traffic lanes from the ocean and darted in front of the Jeep, which struck him at low speed.

The victim was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center as a trauma alert due to his age, and later discharged with injuries that did not require surgery.

The driver of the Jeep, identified as Brock Winkler, 36, of Lakeland, remained on scene for the crash investigation, which found that the crash occurred due to the child darting into the traffic lane.

However, multiple witnesses advised Winkler had been drinking prior to the crash. A photo was provided of several empty beer cans left behind where he was parked.

Deputies initiated a DUI investigation, conducted field sobriety exercises, and found probable cause to charge Winkler with DUI with serious bodily injury. Winkler refused to submit to a breath test, resulting in an additional charge of refusal to submit to DUI testing.

Winkler was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail where he remained in custody Sunday morning.