Gainesville man Barnard W. Cato III fled DUI crash to use bathroom, officers say

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Police say a driver told them he left the scene of a crash to avoid another kind of accident.

The Gainesville Sun reports 29-year-old Barnard W. Cato III told police he had "the runs" early Tuesday when his car hit another car and some nearby newspaper boxes. He was charged with DUI, hit and run and leaving the scene of an accident involving an injury.

Officer Stephanie Pridgen wrote in an accident report that Cato was found at Walmart a few minutes after the crash with a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and clothing. She wrote that his eyes were "bloodshot and watery."

Police say Cato refused to take a breathalyzer.