Additional details about Joe Don Rooney’s recent DUI arrest have surfaced.
Rooney, 45, who is one part of the award-winning trio Rascal Flatts, was charged with driving under the influence early morning on Thursday, September 9, according to a WSMV report.
According to the authorities, Rooney was arrested in Williamson County, Tennessee following a motor vehicle crash around 4 am local time. The WSMV report from the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office states that Rooney crashed into a tree around the 1200 block of Hillsboro Road.
At the time, he was booked and bonded out, with a bond set at $2,500.
Now, weeks after being charged with driving under the influence, TMZ reported that Rooney blamed the accident that led to his DUI arrest on a deer that crossed the road.
According to an affidavit, obtained by TMZ, police said Rooney told them that he was driving his BMW early in the morning when a deer ran out in front of his car causing him to crash into a tree.
Rooney reportedly told police that he went to a friend’s house for drinks after playing golf and had “one more than I should have.”
After Rooney’s arrest, Gary Levox, a fellow of member of Rascal Flatts, admitted to PEOPLE that he was “heartbroken” and worried about his longtime friend and bandmate.
When the publication asked LeVox if he has spoken to Rooney since his DUI arrest, the “Working On Sunday” singer revealed, “I have not talked to him.”
“And I was heartbroken too. But you know what? I think God gets your attention in different ways,” LeVox added. “I just wish him the best and I hope he gets everything that he needs to get well and take care of whatever issues he’s got going on. There’s power in prayer.”
At the time, Levox also revealed that Rooney abruptly quit the band, ultimately leading to the trio’s demise.
“I’ve never been okay with the way that it ended,” LeVox confessed. “I was never okay with…” the singer added, before pausing to think what to say next. He then revealed, “I wasn’t happy that Joe Don [Rooney] quit.”
LeVox continued to share that Rooney’s departure was unexpected, then the global health crisis shut the world down, which forced everything to be cancelled, including their 2020 farewell tour. The dates for the farewell tour were never rescheduled, and the GRAMMY award-winning trio reportedly called it quits altogether.
“It kind of came out of nowhere,” LeVox continued, referencing Rooney’s exit. “It was like, ‘Let me try to wrap my head around this.’ And then I certainly wasn’t okay with the pandemic, which canceled everything. I hate the way that it ended. I hate that we didn’t get to do this farewell tour. I can’t stand the fact that it just feels there’s no closure with something that we’ve been so blessed with. That will always be in my heart.”
Rooney is married to Tiffany Fallon. Joe Don and Tiffany have been married since 2006 and have three children together.
Founded in 2000, Rascal Flatts is one of the most successful country groups of all time with 17 No.1 singles and more than 23.4 million albums sold. Rascal Flatts has earned more than 40 trophies from ACA, ACM, AMA, CMA, People’s Choice and more, cementing the band as the most-awarded country group of the past decade.
