A 32-year-old man was arrested on multiple charges early Friday after police said he crashed a U-Haul moving truck into a St. Pete Beach hotel. 

  • Pinellas deputies: Move goes bad for man in U-Haul DUI crash 
  • Edgar A. Hidalgo of Sarasota crashed U-Haul into Hotel parking garage, said deputies
  • Charges include DUI, leaving the scene of a crash and possession of cocaine 

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Edgar A. Hidalgo of Sarasota was drunk just after midnight when he drove the U-Haul truck into the Hotel Zamora located at 3701Gulf Boulevard. 

Officials said Hidalgo then drove off from the area. He was arrested about two hours later. 

When deputies arrived there was substantial structure damage to a hotel parking garage drop ceiling. Witnesses provided deputies with a description of the moving truck.

Shortly afterward, deputies stopped a 10 foot U-Haul truck with roof damage, driving north on Gulf Winds Drive at 64th Avenue in St. Pete Beach. 

Deputies then made contact with Hidalgo and his passenger Shawn Whiting, 30.

Officials said Hidalgo told them he attended a party at Hotel Zamora. After the party, Hidalgo was driving Whiting to her car in the parking garage when he stuck the parking garage drop ceiling with the roof of the U-Haul truck. 

Hidalgo said he fled the scene and hid the truck in the area until deputies left the area. He said he was in the process of moving to Miami.

Hidalgo is facing charges of leaving the scene of crash with property damage, one count of DUI, and one count of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine).