A U.S. Postal Service employee was arrested earlier this month in Melbourne, Florida, after reportedly drinking alcohol during her delivery route and later driving erratically, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Katelyne Dye, 33, was taken into custody on April 12 and charged with driving under the influence (DUI).
Melbourne police received a report of a USPS mail truck traveling in the wrong direction on South Harbor City Boulevard. The caller also noted that the driver was throwing plastic cups from the vehicle. Officers located the truck shortly after and observed it making a U-turn on East University Boulevard before continuing to swerve between lanes, eventually crossing into oncoming traffic.
After stopping the truck, police said the driver—identified as Dye—appeared disoriented and confused. Field sobriety tests indicated impairment, according to the affidavit.
During questioning, Dye admitted she had been delivering mail on Riverview Drive when she accepted an invitation to join a house party. She told officers she consumed two shots of vodka at the gathering. The situation escalated into a safety concern, with multiple witnesses reporting the vehicle nearly collided with other cars on U.S. 1.
When asked why she was swerving, Dye reportedly claimed she had fallen asleep at the wheel. She also said the liquid she discarded from the truck was water, used to rinse her mouth to mask the smell of alcohol.
Witnesses who called in the incident confirmed seeing the erratic behavior, which could have led to serious consequences. The drunk postal worker was eventually booked into the Brevard County Jail following the incident.
This is not the first time concerns have been raised over delivery drivers under the influence, and this case involving a drunk postal worker highlights the potential risks to public safety.
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