Newberry Man Charged with Three Counts of DUI, Nitrous Oxide Use Blamed

ALACHUA COUNTY – A 25-year-old Newberry man was arrested at approximately 7:57 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, and charged with DUI, DUI with serious bodily injury to another person and DUI with property damage after allegedly crashing his car into a ditch and a fence after inhaling nitrous oxide.

Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies and Florida Highway Patrol Troopers responded to a crash on County Road 241/Northwest 143^rd Street, north of Northwest 39^th Avenue in Gainesville. The deputy reported that a gray Mini Cooper with major damage had crashed into a ditch and a wooden fence.

Several witnesses stayed at the scene and reportedly told officers that Henlo Diedricks had been driving the Mini Cooper south on CR 241 and the car had been weaving in and out of its lane. Witnesses reported that the car swerved out of its lane and crashed into the ditch and then into the fence. Witnesses also reportedly told the deputy that Diedricks said he had just inhaled nitrous oxide, known as “whip-its.”

Diedricks reportedly performed poorly on field sobriety exercises. The deputy noted that his lips appeared to be “crusted and looked to have freeze-dried skin on both lips. This is commonly associated with inhaling [nitrous oxide].” The deputy reported finding two bottles of nitrous oxide on the back seat floorboard behind the front passenger seat. One of the bottles was cold to the touch, indicating it had been used recently.

At the jail, Diedricks reportedly provided two breath samples, which were both 0.000. He reportedly consented to providing a blood sample after he was medically cleared at an emergency room.

Diedricks’ passenger was trauma-alerted to an emergency room, where she was confirmed to have a broken arm. She spontaneously said that she and Diedricks had both been inhaling nitrous oxide while driving.

Diedricks has no criminal history. He was released on his own recognizance to treatment supervision for substance abuse by Judge Denise Ferrero, who also added a prohibition on any alcohol or illegal drugs along with “No huffing.”

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