A 40-year-old Fleming Island, Florida woman was arrested after deputies say she inhaled computer duster while behind the wheel of a vehicle before crashing into the side of a business in St. Pete Beach.
According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred at approximately 9:07 p.m. on June 25 at 5801 Gulf Boulevard. Deputies responded after receiving reports of a vehicle that had struck the exterior wall of a business, damaging electrical wiring attached to the building. Witnesses told investigators the driver was slumped over the steering wheel while the vehicle remained in contact with the building.
When deputies arrived, they found the driver, identified as Lindsay Harwell Turner, 40, unconscious behind the wheel. Investigators reported finding an open can of “Blow Off” computer duster containing tetrafluoroethane in Turner’s arms, with a second can located inside the vehicle. Both cans were cold to the touch, consistent with recent use.
According to the arrest affidavit, Turner was initially disoriented and unsteady after exiting the vehicle but became more alert following a medical evaluation. She later admitted to inhaling the computer duster and told deputies she had recently relapsed after maintaining approximately three years of sobriety. She reportedly told investigators she had “messed up,” had recently begun inhaling about one can of computer duster each day, and apologized while asking if anyone had been injured.
Deputies charged Turner with DUI involving property damage, a first-degree misdemeanor, and Inhalation of a Harmful Chemical, a second-degree misdemeanor.
No injuries were reported as a result of the crash. Turner was taken into custody and booked into the Pinellas County Jail following the incident. The investigation remains ongoing.
Tetrafluoroethane is a compressed gas used in many computer dusters and as an automotive refrigerant. While the product is safe when used as directed, inhaling the gas to become intoxicated can cause dizziness, impaired coordination, unconsciousness, dangerous heart rhythm disturbances, and, in some cases, sudden death.