Dopey Driver Found Passed Out in Car Packed With Pot

South Florida Road Ranger finds SUV stuffed with weed, driver flees

Talk about riding high.

A South Florida Road Ranger who stopped to give a passed-out driver some assistance stumbled upon a massive marijuana stash in the back of an SUV Tuesday night.

The incident happened just before 7 p.m. on the Palmetto Expressway near 36th St. in Doral when the Road Ranger spotted the silver Chevy Tahoe pulled over near the median on the southbound side.

As the road ranger approached the car, he saw the driver passed out behind the wheel. But what really stunned him was the overpowering smell of the 100 pounds of pot plants packed into the SUV.

"It's not everyday that you walk up to a car that is literally loaded with marijuana," said Lt. Alex Annunziato, with the Florida Highway Patrol.

According to Annunziato, the man behind the wheel told the Road Ranger he was on probation, and offered a couple hundred bucks if the Ranger would drive him somewhere safe.

Instead, the Ranger called FHP troopers, and when they showed up, the driver took off on foot.

"As soon as he saw the trooper, he knew what was gonna happen," said Annunziato. "This gentleman jumps the median wall and literally crosses the four lanes of northbound highway traffic and down the embankment."

Troopers were just as shocked as the Road Ranger at how little the driver had done to cover the several pot plants that were found partially covered by black garbage bags throughout the car.

"This looks more like a cry for help than an actual crime," said Annunziato. "This person was definitely not trying to be discreet."

In all, Annunziato estimates the plants to be worth between $100,000 to $150,000.

The driver is described as a Hispanic male in his 30s, about 5-foot-6, who was wearing a black shirt and jeans and has tattoos on his upper arms.

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