FORT LAUDERDALE — Bob “Kooch” Kuechenberg, a legendary former Dolphin who played for the team from 1970 to 1984, was arrested over the weekend on charges of driving under the influence, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
Troopers took Kuechenberg, 63, of Fort Lauderdale, into custody on Saturday night on one count each of DUI second offense, DUI property damage and improper passing or lane change, an arrest report said.
Kuechenberg is considered one of the great linemen from the Dolphins’ two world championship teams. He started four Super Bowls for the Dolphins.
Kuechenberg’s arrest occurred at about 9:30 p.m. after his white, two-door Volvo was involved in a crash on Interstate 95, about 100 feet south of Commercial Boulevard.
Another driver, Jose Median, was driving southbound on I-95 in an outside center lane, when Kuechenberg’s vehicle swerved into Median’s lane and struck Median’s vehicle on the right side, Median told the Highway Patrol.
Median “had to follow” Kuechenberg’s vehicle and flash his lights to tell Kuechenberg that he had struck his vehicle, according to a Highway Patrol report. Median and Kuechenberg then pulled over and someone summoned the Highway Patrol.
Troopers arrived and found Kuechenberg’s Volvo had left side damage, with major damage near the front driver’s side tire area, an arrest report said.
Kuechenberg had “very bloodshot, watery, glassy” eyes and a “very red flush” face, the report said. His breath smelled of alcohol, and his speech was slurred, the report said.
Kuechenberg agreed to perform field sobriety tests, but lost his balance several times, the report said. He then was arrested. In two breath tests, Drelich had a blood alcohol level of .127 and .122, officials said. Florida’s legal limit is .08.
Kuechenberg was freed from jail Sunday night after posting $2,000 bail, records show.
Kuechenberg couldn’t be immediately reached for comment Monday despite phone calls to a listed number.
Kuechenberg previously has been arrested in DUI cases.
In August 1994, he pleaded no contest to charges that he was driving under the influence when his Toyota struck three cars at a stoplight on a Palmetto Expressway exit ramp. Police at the time said there were no serious injuries.
Kuechenberg also was charged with DUI in 1993, but the charge was reduced to reckless driving in a plea deal, according to a 1994 Miami Herald article.
Have you been charged with DUI in Florida as well? If so, you should contact a Sarasota DUI attorney at Musca Law for a free and confidential consultation.
