( CNN ) -- A Florida man fleeing a traffic stop almost got away , police say . Until he met up with an alligator . Bryan Zuniga escaped police early Thursday , but was arrested at a Florida hospital hours later following the painful encounter with the gator . The incident started after deputies pulled over the 20-year-old in Pinellas Park for allegedly failing to maintain a single lane . He stopped the vehicle , jumped out and broke through a nearby fence , successfully eluding police , the Pinellas County Sheriff 's deputies said in a statement . But his freedom did not last long . Authorities arrested him a few hours later at a local hospital , where he was getting treatment after the alligator attack . Zuniga told deputies an alligator bit him near a water treatment plant in St. Petersburg , which is a few miles from where he ditched his car . Deputies took him into custody after he was treated for multiple puncture wounds to the face , arm and armpit area , the sheriff 's office said in a statement . Authorities booked him into the county jail on various charges , including driving without a license and fleeing police . Zuniga did not respond to CNN affiliate Bay News 9 's request for comment while authorities were walking him into the jail , and CNN has been unable to identify his lawyer . Once endangered , the Florida alligator has made a comeback and can be found in county water bodies , according to Pinellas County 's Animal Services website .
Incident started after deputies pulled over 20-year-old in Pinellas Park . He allegedly stopped the vehicle , jumped out and broke through a nearby fence . He encountered an alligator , which bit him . Police arrested him the same day at the hospital .