Florida Woman Kills Horse in DUI Crash, Says She Thought It Was a Deer

A horse was struck and killed on a road in Melbourne, Florida, on September 30, 2026. The driver accused of hitting the animal reportedly continued home in a Toyota SUV with extensive front-end damage, including a crushed hood and shattered windshield.

A witness saw the vehicle strike the horse and leave the scene on Lake Washington Road. Brevard County deputies and Florida Highway Patrol troopers responded, but the animal was already dead when they arrived.

The witness provided a description of the vehicle, which helped deputies locate 62-year-old Anne Marie Cross at her Melbourne home. Her SUV showed significant damage consistent with a serious collision.

Cross told deputies she believed something had landed on her vehicle while she was returning from shopping. The encounter led to her arrest on DUI-related charges after deputies observed signs of possible impairment.

Something In The Road

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In a public Facebook statement, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey described the collision and criticized the decision to leave the horse without stopping to request assistance.

Deputies found Cross near her damaged SUV after following up on the witness’s description. She had visible injuries to her face, while the vehicle’s hood, windshield, and front end showed the force of the impact.

Cross maintained that she had not consumed alcohol that evening. However, deputies observed physical indicators they considered consistent with impairment, including glassy eyes and slurred speech.

She refused to participate in field sobriety exercises and declined a requested breath test.

A Different Explanation

Cross’s explanation of the collision raised questions about what she believed had struck her vehicle. Despite the substantial damage, she told deputies she had been able to drive home without difficulty.

Ivey openly questioned how someone could mistake a full-grown horse for another animal or object in the road, particularly after a collision violent enough to cause such extensive damage.

The sheriff referred to field sobriety exercises as the “Drunk Olympics” in his public commentary and criticized Cross for continuing home without checking what she had struck.

The incident also involved two separate law enforcement responsibilities. Florida Highway Patrol troopers handled the crash investigation, while Brevard County deputies conducted the DUI investigation that resulted in Cross’s arrest.

Although the sheriff described the collision as a hit-and-run, the available booking information does not list a separate charge for leaving the scene.

After The Arrest

The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office booking record identifies the driver as Anne Marie Cross and lists her booking time as 2:22 a.m. on October 1, 2026.

She was arrested on three charges: driving under the influence, DUI involving damage to another person’s property, and refusal to submit to DUI testing.

Her total bond was set at $11,000, consisting of two $5,000 amounts and a $1,000 amount associated with the listed charges. She was released from custody on October 2.

The booking record lists a November 5, 2026, court date for the DUI charge before Judge Jonathan Skinner. No court dates were listed for the other two charges in the record reviewed.

Cross’s arrest and the allegations against her do not constitute a finding of guilt. Her refusal to participate in testing and the deputies’ observations were cited in connection with her arrest but do not independently establish intoxication.